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    Rights statement: This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Pharmacological Reports. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Pharmacological Reports, 68, 6, 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharep.2016.09.002

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Escitalopram affects spexin expression in the rat hypothalamus, hippocampus and striatum

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
  • Artur Palasz
  • Aleksandra Suszka-Świtek
  • Lukasz Filipczyk
  • Katarzyna Bogus
  • Ewa Rojczyk
  • John Joseph Worthington
  • Marek Krzystanek
  • Ryszard Wiaderkiewicz
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>12/2016
<mark>Journal</mark>Pharmacological reports : PR
Issue number6
Volume68
Number of pages6
Pages (from-to)1326-1331
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date3/09/16
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Background

Spexin (SPX) is a recently discovered neuropeptide that exhibits a large spectrum of central and peripheral regulatory activity, especially when considered as a potent anorexigenic factor. It has already been proven that antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), can modulate peptidergic signaling in various brain structures. Despite these findings, there is so far no information regarding the influence of treatment with the SSRI antidepressant escitalopram on brain SPX expression.

Methods

In this current study we measured SPX mRNA and protein expression in the selected brain structures (hypothalamus, hippocampus and striatum) of rats chronically treated with a 10 mg/kg dose of escitalopram using quantitative Real-Time PCR and immunohistochemistry.

Results

Strikingly, long-term (4 week) drug treatment led to the downregulation of SPX expression in the rat hypothalamus. This supports the hypothesis that SPX may be involved in the hypothalamic serotonin-dependent actions of SSRI antidepressants and possibly also in the central mechanism of body mass increase. Conversely, SPX expression increased in the hippocampus and striatum.

Conclusions

This is the first report of the effects of a neuropsychiatric medication on SPX expression in animal brain. Our findings shed a new light on the pharmacology of antidepressants and may contribute to a better understanding of the alternative mechanisms responsible for antidepressant action.

Bibliographic note

This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Pharmacological Reports. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Pharmacological Reports, 68, 6, 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharep.2016.09.002