Effect of Hippocampal Overexpression of Dopamine Neurotrophic Factor (CDNF) on Behavior of Mice with Genetic Predisposition to Depressive-Like Behavior

AbstractCerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) is a promising agent for Parkinson ’s disease treatment. However, its role in regulation of non-motor behavior including various psychopathologies remains unclear. In this regard, the aim of the present work was to study effect of CDNF overexpression in hippocampus on behavior of the ASC mice (Antidepressant Sensitive Cataleptics) with genetic predisposition to depressive-like behavior. CDNF overexpression in the mouse hippocampal neurons was induced using an adeno-associated viral vector. Four weeks after stereotaxic injection of the AAV-CDNF construct into the dorsal hippocampus home cage activity, exploratory, anxious and depressive-like types of behavior, as well as spatial and associative learning were assessed. We found significant improvements in the dynamics of spatial learning in the Morris water maze in the CDNF-overexpressing animals. At the same time, no effect of CDNF was found on other types of behavior un der study. Behavior of the experimental animals under home cage conditions did not differ from that in the control group, except for the decrease in the total amount of food eaten and slight increase in the number of sleep episodes during the light phase of the day. In the present study we also atte mpted to determine molecular basis for the above-mentioned changes through assessment of the gene expression pattern. We did not find significant changes in the mRNA level of key kinases genes involved in neuro...
Source: Biochemistry (Moscow) - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research