Antidepressant-like activity of zinc: further behavioral and molecular evidence

J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2008 Dec;115(12):1621-8. doi: 10.1007/s00702-008-0115-7. Epub 2008 Sep 3.

Abstract

Zinc exhibits antidepressant-like activity in preclinical tests (the forced swim test and tail suspension test) and in olfactory bulbectomy and chronic unpredictable stress; two models of depression. Zinc also enhances the treatment of depression in humans. In the present study we evaluated the antidepressant activity of zinc in another model of depression-chronic mild stress (CMS) and the effect of zinc treatment on BDNF protein and the mRNA level. In CMS zinc hydroaspartate (10 mg/kg) exhibited a rapid (after 1 week of treatment) antidepressant-like effect. Chronic treatment with zinc induced a 17-39% increase in the BDNF mRNA and protein level in the hippocampus. These data indicate a rapidly acting antidepressant-like activity of zinc in CMS and the involvement of zinc in the regulation of BDNF.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antidepressive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / drug effects*
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / genetics
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / metabolism
  • Chronic Disease / drug therapy
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Depressive Disorder / metabolism
  • Depressive Disorder / physiopathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Gene Expression / physiology
  • Male
  • RNA, Messenger / drug effects
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Stress, Psychological / drug therapy*
  • Stress, Psychological / metabolism
  • Stress, Psychological / physiopathology
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Zinc Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Zinc Compounds / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Zinc Compounds