Abstract:
To observe the effects of chronic restraint stress (CRS) on the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) in hippocampus of female and behavioral changes, female mice were selected, the animal depression model related chronic restraint stress was used, and forced swimming test (FST) was carried out to observe their behaviors. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the expression of ERα and ERβ in hippocampus. Chronic restraint stress could notably restrain the augment of animal weights and increase their immobility time in FST. Compared with control group, there were significant reduction in the number of ERα-IR cells, ERβ-IR cells in hippocampus in CRS group. OVX could also notably restrain the augment of animals weight and increase their immobility time in FST. Compared with control group, there were significant increase in the number of ERα-IR cells in the DG, and significant reduction in that of ERβ-IR cells in the CA1, CA2, CA3 in OVX group. During the course of chronic restraint stress, female mouse were injected with E periodically, and we found that animal weights were notably increased and their immobility time was reduced remarkably compared with Stress group. Additionally, there were significant reductions in the number of ERα-IR cells and ERβ-IR cells in the hippocampus. Chronic restraint stress can lead to depression-like behavior, and there is a close relationship between stress-induced depression and estrogen.
