Abe Keiichi, Shimada Ryo, Okada Yoshikazu, Kibayashi Kazuhiko
a Department of Neurosurgery , School of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University , Tokyo , Japan.
b Department of Legal Medicine , School of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University , Tokyo , Japan.
Neurol Res. 2016 Apr;38(4):358-63. doi: 10.1080/01616412.2015.1110402. Epub 2016 Apr 15.
An association has been postulated between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and depression. The serotonin transporter (SERT) regulates the concentration of serotonin in the synaptic cleft and represents a molecular target for antidepressants. We hypothesized that SERT expression in the brain changes following TBI.
We performed immunohistochemistry, real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis for mRNA and western blot analysis for protein to examine the time-dependent changes in SERT expression in the cerebrum during the first 14 days after TBI, using a controlled cortical impact model in rats.
SERT immunoreactivity in neuronal fibres within the area adjacent to the cortical contusion decreased 1 to 14 days after injury. Significantly decreased SERT mRNA and protein expression were noted in the area adjacent to the cortical contusion 7 days after injury. There were no significant changes in SERT expression in the cingulum of the injured brain.
The findings of this study indicate that TBI decreases SERT expression in the cerebral cortex. The decreased levels of SERT expression after TBI may result in decreased serotonin neurotransmission in the brain and indicate a possible relationship with depression following TBI.
创伤性脑损伤（TBI）与抑郁症之间被假定存在关联。血清素转运体（SERT）调节突触间隙中血清素的浓度，是抗抑郁药的分子靶点。我们假设TBI后大脑中SERT的表达会发生变化。
我们使用大鼠控制皮质撞击模型，通过免疫组织化学、mRNA的实时聚合酶链反应分析和蛋白质的蛋白质印迹分析，来检测TBI后前14天大脑中SERT表达的时间依赖性变化。
损伤后1至14天，皮质挫伤相邻区域内神经纤维中的SERT免疫反应性降低。损伤后7天，皮质挫伤相邻区域的SERT mRNA和蛋白质表达显著降低。受伤大脑的扣带束中SERT表达无显著变化。
本研究结果表明，TBI会降低大脑皮质中SERT的表达。TBI后SERT表达水平降低可能导致大脑中血清素神经传递减少，并表明与TBI后的抑郁症可能存在关联。
