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The antidepressant effect of musk in an animal model of depression: a histopathological study

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Abstract

Depression is a significant public health concern all over the world, especially in modern communities. This study aims to assess the efficacy of musk in alleviating the behavioral, biochemical and histopathological changes induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in an animal model of depression and to explore the underlying mechanism of this effect. Male Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups (n = 10): control, CUMS, CUMS+fluoxetine and CUMS+musk. At the end of the experiment, behavioral tests were administered and serum corticosterone and testosterone levels were assessed. Surface markers, proteins and gene expressions of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) in the hippocampus were assessed. The immunoexpression of glial fibrillary acidic protein, Ki67 and caspase-3 was also assessed. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and a P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Musk alleviated the behavioral changes caused by CUMS and reduced elevated corticosterone levels. It reduced CUMS-induced neuronal atrophy in the CA3 and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and restored astrocytes. Musk reduced the neuro- and glial apoptosis observed in stressed mice in a manner comparable to that of fluoxetine. Musk induced these effects through up-regulating both BDNF and GR gene and protein expressions. Musk has an antidepressant-like effect in an animal model of depression, so it is advisable to assess its efficacy in people continually exposed to stressors.

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  • 23 November 2017

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific research (DSR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, under grant no. (512/140/1434). The authors, therefore, acknowledge with thanks DSR for their technical and financial support. We would also like to thank Miss Hanaa, the technician at the preclinical research unit, King Fahed medical research center, KAU, for caring for the mice during the experiment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Nasra Naeim Ayuob & Soad Shaker Ali

  2. Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

    Nasra Naeim Ayuob

  3. Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Mansour Suliaman

  4. Anatomy Department, Faculty of Medicine for girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

    Manal Galal Abd El Wahab

  5. Faculty of Nurses, National Gard, King Saud University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Manal Galal Abd El Wahab

  6. Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Samra Mansour Ahmed

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  1. Nasra Naeim Ayuob
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Correspondence to Nasra Naeim Ayuob.

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A correction to this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-017-2742-5.

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Ayuob, N.N., Ali, S.S., Suliaman, M. et al. The antidepressant effect of musk in an animal model of depression: a histopathological study. Cell Tissue Res 366, 271–284 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-016-2468-9

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