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Neurochemical Changes in the Mouse Hippocampus Underlying the Antidepressant Effect of Genetic Deletion of P2X7 Receptors
Open accessAbstract
Recent investigations have revealed that the genetic deletion of P2X7 receptors (P2rx7) results in an antidepressant phenotype in mice. However, the link between the deficiency of P2rx7 and changes in behavior has not yet been explored. In the present study, we studied the effect of genetic deletion of P2rx7 on neurochemical changes in the hippocampus that might underlie the antidepressant phenotype. P2X7 receptor deficient mice (P2rx7-/-) displayed decreased immobility in the tail suspension test (TST) and an attenuated anhedonia response in the sucrose preference test (SPT) following bacterial endotoxin (LPS) challenge. The attenuated anhedonia was reproduced through systemic treatments with P2rx7 antagonists. The activation of P2rx7 resulted in the concentration-dependent release of [(3)H]glutamate in P2rx7+/+ but not P2rx7-/- mice, and the NR2B subunit mRNA and protein was upregulated in the hippocampus of P2rx7-/- mice. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression was higher in saline but not LPS-treated P2rx7-/- mice; the P2rx7 antagonist Brilliant blue G elevated and the P2rx7 agonist benzoylbenzoyl ATP (BzATP) reduced BDNF level. This effect was dependent on the activation of NMDA and non-NMDA receptors but not on Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR1,5). An increased 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation was also observed in the dentate gyrus derived from P2rx7-/- mice. Basal level of 5-HT was increased, whereas the 5HIAA/5-HT ratio was lower in the hippocampus of P2rx7-/- mice, which accompanied the increased uptake of [(3)H]5-HT and an elevated number of [(3)H]citalopram binding sites. The LPS-induced elevation of 5-HT level was absent in P2rx7-/- mice. In conclusion there are several potential mechanisms for the antidepressant phenotype of P2rx7-/- mice, such as the absence of P2rx7-mediated glutamate release, elevated basal BDNF production, enhanced neurogenesis and increased 5-HT bioavailability in the hippocampus.
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![Figure 3 The effect of the genetic deletion of P2rx7 on ATP-evoked tritiated (A, C) and endogenous (B) glutamate efflux (D) mRNA expression and (E–I) immunofluorescence staining of the NR2B subunit of the NMDA receptors in acute hippocampal slices. A/10 mM ATP was used to induce [3H]Glu release from hippocampal slices of P2rx7+/+ and P2rx7−/− mice. After a 60-min preperfusion, the basal extracellular [3H]Glu efflux was lower in P2rx7−/− mice. 6-min perfusion of ATP (10 mM) resulted in a transient increase in the efflux of [3H]Glu in P2rx7+/+ mice, which peaked at 6 min after ATP administration and gradually decreased to baseline levels after 12 min. The ATP-evoked [3H]Glu efflux is substantially decreased in the hippocampus of P2rx7−/− mice, and the residual efflux is abolished by the selective P2X1 receptor antagonist NF449 (100 nM), which was applied at 15 min before ATP perfusion. [3H]Glu release is expressed as a percentage of the amount of radioactivity in the tissue at the sample collection time (fractional release). For the evaluation of the basal tritium outflow, the tritium content of the first four consecutive 3-min samples were taken into account. The curves represent the mean ± SEM of 8–12 identical experiments. B/HPLC analysis. Samples indicated in (A) as S1 and S2 were analyzed. ATP perfusion (10 mM) significantly increases the endogenous Glu level in the effluent. Results are expressed as pmol/3 min. N = 8, ***P<0.001. C/Concentration-response relationship of ATP-evoked [3H]Glu efflux in P2rx7+/+ and P2rx7−/− mice. Experiments were performed according to the protocol shown in (A), using different concentrations of ATP, as indicated in the abscissa. The net ATP-induced release was calculated and expressed as the fractional release (%). The curves represent the mean ± S.E.M. of 4–12 identical experiments. D/Changes in the mRNA expression levels of the NMDA-NR2B receptor in hippocampus obtained from P2rx7+/+ and P2rx7−/− mice. Immediately after the 60-min incubation, the brain slices were removed and total RNA was extracted from the hippocampus and reverse transcribed to cDNA. Quantitative SYBR Green real-time PCR was performed using specific primers, as described in Methods, and cDNA as a template. The experiments were repeated two times with similar results. The expression level of the NR2B receptor was normalized to that of the distinct housekeeping gene, 18S rRNA. The data are displayed as the mean ± SEM. Asterisk indicates significant difference from the P2rx7+/+ mice (*P<0.05, Student’s t-test). E-I/Immunofluorescence staining for NR2B on hippocampal sections of P2rx7+/+ and P2rx7−/− mice. Besides the typical dotted staining most likely presenting NR2B - immunolabelled terminals (arrows, F, H) some staining is observable around cell bodies especially in the pyramidal cell layer (three arrowheads G). The whole staining is more intense in the hippocampal section of P2rx7−/− mouse (G, I). The most intense staining is observed in the CA3 regions (CA3 on E, G and F, H), while stratum oriens (or) shows the least immunoreactivity either in P2rx7+/+ and P2rx7−/− sample. Contrary to P2rx7+/+ staining (E), intense immunofluorescence illustrates hilus region on P2rx7−/− (G) sample. Images acquired at higher magnification (F,H) also show blood vessels (arrowheads), stained at the same level in both sections (background staining). bars: 50 µm in F, H, 500 µm in E, G. I. Immunofluorescence staining intensity for NR2B in P2rx7+/+ and P2rx7−/− mice. Average intensity was quantified with NIH ImageJ program (U.S. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) and is expressed in arbitrary units. Asterisk indicates significant difference from the wild type mice (*P<0.05, Student’s t-test, n = 3).](/paper-figures/c58e9d5eed97436cb40817f0a27418e5/neurochemical-changes-in-the-mouse-hippocampus-underlying-the-antidepressant-figure-3.jpg)


![Figure 6 Genetic deletion of P2rx7 leads to the alteration of NA and 5-HT levels (A, B), elevation of3H-Citalopram binding sites and 5-HT uptake (C) in the mouse hippocampus. A, B/NA and 5-HT levels were analyzed using HPLC in the hippocampus of naive and LPS (1 mg/kg)-treated P2rx7+/+ and P2rx7−/− mice. A/5-HT levels are significantly elevated in the hippocampus of untreated P2rx7−/− mice. LPS treatment increases 5-HT levels in the hippocampus of P2rx7+/+ mice. This elevation is absent in P2rx7−/− mice. B/NA levels are significantly decreased in the hippocampus of untreated, but not in LPS-treated P2rx7−/− mice. NA and 5-HT levels are expressed as pmol/mg protein. Data are given as the mean ± SEM of 13–22 experiments. Asterisks denote significant differences related to genotype or LPS treatment (*P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001). C/The number (Bmax) of [3H]Citalopram recognition sites was increased in the membrane preparation, and the synaptosomal 5-HT uptake was enhanced in the hippocampus of P2rx7−/− mice (black bars) compared with their P2rx7+/+ littermates (clear bars). Citalopram binding was expressed as fmol/mg protein, and the 5-HT uptake was expressed as fmol/mg protein/10 minutes. Experiments in P2rx7+/+ and P2rx7−/− mice were performed in the same assay. Binding parameters were calculated using Prism3 software. For experimental procedures, see Methods section. Data are given as the mean ± SEM of four independent experiments, * P<0.05.](/paper-figures/5b5439e69adf44528f9d372dbfb08187/neurochemical-changes-in-the-mouse-hippocampus-underlying-the-antidepressant-figure-6.jpg)
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“Initial evidence from Csolle et al. showed that treatment with Brilliant Blue G (BBG), a P2X7R antagonist, attenuated the anhedonia induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) [20] and decreased the immobility time of mice exposed to TST [85].”
From P2X7 Receptor Signaling in Stress and Depression (2019) · cites this paper as [20]
In the citing paper
“Evidence from pharmacological studies have further corroborated this hypothesis, since treatment with P2X7R antagonists induce antidepressant-like effects in various animal models.”
From P2X7 Receptor Signaling in Stress and Depression (2019) · cites this paper as [20]
In the citing paper
“Based on these findings, P2X7R-mediated increase in 5-HT levels might be an important mechanism involved in behavioral adaptation to stress.”
From P2X7 Receptor Signaling in Stress and Depression (2019) · cites this paper as [20]
In the citing paper
“suggesting that this response was mediated by P2X7R [20].”
From P2X7 Receptor Signaling in Stress and Depression (2019) · cites this paper as [20]
In the citing paper
“These suggestions are supported by results showing that P2X7R KO mice presents enhanced neurogenesis [20].”
From P2X7 Receptor Signaling in Stress and Depression (2019) · cites this paper as [20]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Csölle, C., Baranyi, M., Zsilla, G., Kittel, Á., Gölöncsér, F., Illes, P., Papp, E., Vizi, E. S., & Sperlágh, B.
- Affiliations
- HUN-REN Institute of Experimental Medicine (HU)
- Semmelweis University (HU)
- Corresponding author
- Sperlágh, Beáta
- Venue
- PLoS ONE
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- Published
- 2013-06-21
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- e66547
- ISSN
- 1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3689833
- OpenAlex
- W2089887997
- Cited by
- 128
- References
- 109
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 6.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Repository of the Academy's Library (Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences) (acceptedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Semmelweis University Repository (Semmelweis University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Egészségügyi Tudományos Tanács
- Gedeon Richter
- National Institutes of Health
- Directorate for Biological Sciences
- University of California, Davis (95616, CA 95616)
- Medical Research Council
- National Cancer Institute (P01CA095616)
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (U24NS050606)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Physiology › Adenosine and Purinergic Signaling
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology (medical) › Treatment of Major Depression
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Keywords
- P2X7 receptor, gene deletion, hippocampus, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glutamate release, NR2B subunit, anhedonia, endotoxin, serotonin, neurogenesis, dentate gyrus, NMDA receptor, non-NMDA receptors
- MeSH terms
- Adenosine Triphosphate, Animals, Lipopolysaccharides, Serotonin, Gene Deletion, Mice, Knockout, Glutamic Acid, Dentate Gyrus, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Mice, Neurogenesis, Receptors, Purinergic P2X7, Anhedonia
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