High levels of NGF during anxiety-like behavior in a murine model of brain ischemic stroke

Juliana Gonçalves de Araújo Fernandes, Edna Constanza Gómez Victoria, Eliana Cristina de Brito Toscano, Rodrigo Novaes Ferreira, Daniele Gonçalves Silva, Bruna da Silva Oliveira, Aline Mansueto Mourão, Vinícius Sousa Pietra Pedroso, Antônio Lúcio Teixeira, Aline Silva de Miranda, Milene Alvarenga Rachid

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Neuropsychiatric disorders following stroke, including depression and anxiety, are often associated with long-term disability. Neurotrophic factors play an important role in the pathophysiology of many neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. In the current study, we investigated a potential participation of neurotrophic factors in stroke-associated behavioral and pathological changes 14 days after ischemia. Methods: Transient global cerebral ischemia was induced by bilateral occlusion of common carotid arteries (BCCAo) in C57BL/6 mice. Neurological evaluation was performed daily up to 14 days after induction. The Open Field (OF) and Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) tests were performed. After behavioral tests, brains from sham and ischemic mice were removed and processed to evaluate histopathology and immunomarcation for cleaved caspase-3 as well as the neurotrophic factors brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and neural growth factor (NGF) by ELISA. Results: Ischemic animals presented anxiety-like behavior and histopathological alterations mainly characterized by formation of small necrotic cavities surrounded by penumbra zone and neuropil vacuolation in the frontal cortex, ischemic neurons in the hippocampus and gliosis in the midbrain. Some immunopositive neurons for cleaved caspase-3 were observed in the penumbra by immunohistochemical analysis. Higher levels of NGF were found in the brain of BCCAo mice compared with sham animals. Similar concentrations of BDNF and GDNF were detected in both groups. Conclusion: Our results suggested the participation of NGF in anxiety-like behavior at 14 days after induction of experimental cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)114-120
Number of pages7
JournalNeurology Psychiatry and Brain Research
Volume38
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anxiety
  • Apoptosis
  • Brain
  • Ischemia
  • Neurotrophic Factors
  • Reperfusion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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