Alterations in pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide in major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and comorbid depression in Alzheimer's disease in the human hypothalamus and prefrontal cortex.

BACKGROUND: Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) is involved in the stress response and may play a key role in mood disorders, but no information is available on PACAP for the human brain in relation to mood disorders. METHODS: PACAP-peptide levels were determined in a major stress-response site, the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), of people with major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD) and of a unique cohort of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with and without depression, all with matched controls. The expression of PACAP-(Adcyap1mRNA) and PACAP-receptors was determined in the MDD and BD patients by qPCR in presumed target sites of PACAP in stress-related disorders, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). RESULTS: PACAP cell bodies and/or fibres were localised throughout the hypothalamus with differences between immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridisation. In the controls, PACAP-immunoreactivity-(ir) in the PVN was higher in women than in men. PVN-PACAP-ir was higher in male BD compared to the matched male controls. In all AD patients, the PVN-PACAP-ir was lower compared to the controls, but higher in AD depressed patients compared to those without depression. There was a significant positive correlation between the Cornell depression score and PVN-PACAP-ir in all AD patients combined. In the ACC and DLPFC, alterations in mRNA expression of PACAP and its receptors were associated with mood disorders in a differential way depending on the type of mood disorder, suicide, and psychotic features. CONCLUSION: The results support the possibility that PACAP plays a role in mood disorder pathophysiology.

Methylation of melatonin receptors in patients with unipolar and bipolar depression.

Disturbances of melatonin secretion alter the circadian rhythm and sleep-wake cycle, which is observed among patients with depression. Melatonin acts via melatonin receptors MT1 and MT2, which are present in many tissues, including peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We assume that disturbances of the melatonin pathway in the brain may be reflected by molecular changes in peripheral organs. The study objective was to evaluate the methylation profile of CpG island in the promoter region of melatonin receptor genes MTNR1A and MTNR1B in PBMC of patients with depression and compare it with healthy volunteers. The study group comprised 85 patients with unipolar (UP) and bipolar disorders (BP) and 83 controls. The methylation pattern of CpG island in the promoter region was analyzed using the quantitative methylation-specific real-time PCR (qMSP-PCR) method. We found that the methylation profile of the patients with depression varied in comparison to the control group. The methylation level of MTNR1A was significantly lower among depressed patients compared to controls. Additionally, melatonin concentration was negatively correlated with MTNR1B methylation level among the UP patients. The study may suggest that the methylation profile of melatonin receptors in PBMC may be used as a complementary molecular marker in depression diagnosis.

Therapeutic Interventions to Mitigate Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress-Induced Damage in Patients with Bipolar Disorder.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by mood changes, including recurrent manic, hypomanic, and depressive episodes, which may involve mixed symptoms. Despite the progress in neurobiological research, the pathophysiology of BD has not been extensively described to date. Progress in the understanding of the neurobiology driving BD could help facilitate the discovery of therapeutic targets and biomarkers for its early detection. Oxidative stress (OS), which damages biomolecules and causes mitochondrial and dopamine system dysfunctions, is a persistent finding in patients with BD. Inflammation and immune dysfunction might also play a role in BD pathophysiology. Specific nutrient supplements (nutraceuticals) may target neurobiological pathways suggested to be perturbed in BD, such as inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and OS. Consequently, nutraceuticals may be used in the adjunctive treatment of BD. This paper summarizes the possible roles of OS, mitochondrial dysfunction, and immune system dysregulation in the onset of BD. It then discusses OS-mitigating strategies that may serve as therapeutic interventions for BD. It also analyzes the relationship between diet and BD as well as the use of nutritional interventions in the treatment of BD. In addition, it addresses the use of lithium therapy; novel antipsychotic agents, including clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, cariprazine, and quetiapine; and anti-inflammatory agents to treat BD. Furthermore, it reviews the efficacy of the most used therapies for BD, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, bright light therapy, imagery-focused cognitive therapy, and electroconvulsive therapy. A better understanding of the roles of OS, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder, along with a stronger elucidation of the therapeutic functions of antioxidants, antipsychotics, anti-inflammatory agents, lithium therapy, and light therapies, may lead to improved strategies for the treatment and prevention of bipolar disorder.

Serum concentration of zinc is elevated in clinically stable bipolar disorder patients.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic psychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent mood episodes interspersed with euthymic periods. A growing number of studies have indicated that zinc plays an important role in coordinating immune responses, as well as being involved in synaptic transmission. In the current study, we set out to measure serum levels of zinc in a meticulously phenotyped cohort of 121 euthymic BD subjects and 30 matched controls. METHODS: Serum levels of zinc were measured by photometry. To assess the interplay between zinc levels and immune activation in BD, we measured serum levels of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels by immunoturbidimetric assay, and serum levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), chitinase 3-like protein 1 (YKL-40), and soluble cluster of differentiation 14 (sCD14) by electrochemiluminescence enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The baseline clinical diagnostic instrument for BD was the Affective Disorder Evaluation, and executive functioning was assessed by using the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System. RESULTS: Controlling for potential confounding factors, BD patients displayed increased serum levels of zinc unrelated to hsCRP, MCP-1, YKL-40, and sCD14 levels. Serum levels of zinc did not associate with executive functioning or measurements of disease severity. DISCUSSION: This study suggests that the zinc homeostasis is disturbed in BD and that this dyshomeostasis is not related to ongoing mood symptoms or immune activation. Of note, serum levels were increased and hence do not support continuous zinc supplementation in BD.

Lithium and Therapeutic Targeting of GSK-3.

Lithium salts have been in the therapeutic toolbox for better or worse since the 19th century, with purported benefit in gout, hangover, insomnia, and early suggestions that lithium improved psychiatric disorders. However, the remarkable effects of lithium reported by John Cade and subsequently by Mogens Schou revolutionized the treatment of bipolar disorder. The known molecular targets of lithium are surprisingly few and include the signaling kinase glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), a group of structurally related phosphomonoesterases that includes inositol monophosphatases, and phosphoglucomutase. Here we present a brief history of the therapeutic uses of lithium and then focus on GSK-3 as a therapeutic target in diverse diseases, including bipolar disorder, cancer, and coronavirus infections.

Effects of Omega 3 Fatty Acids on Main Dimensions of Psychopathology.

The usefulness of polyunsaturated fatty acids on inflammatory, cardiovascular, and the nervous system was studied in the last decades, but the mechanisms underlying their benefic properties are still partially unknown. These agents seem to express their action on the membrane phospholipid composition and permeability and modulation of second messenger cascades. In psychiatry, the efficacy and tolerability of omega-3 fatty acids were investigated in several psychiatric disorders, including major depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, high-risk conditions to develop psychosis, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorders. Initial findings in this field are promising, and some relevant questions need to be addressed. In particular, the effects of these agents on the main symptom dimensions have to be investigated in a trans-diagnostic perspective. The present systematic review is aimed to examine the available data on the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids on domains of psychotic symptoms, affective symptoms, impulsivity, and aggressiveness, and harmful behaviors, and suicide risk.

Interleukin-6 and total antioxidant capacity levels following N-acetylcysteine and a combination nutraceutical intervention in a randomised controlled trial for bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to evaluate changes in inflammatory and oxidative stress levels following treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or mitochondrial-enhancing agents (CT), and to assess the how these changes may predict and/or moderate clinical outcomes primarily the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). METHODS: This study involved secondary analysis of a placebo-controlled randomised trial (n = 163). Serum samples were collected at baseline and week 16 of the clinical trial to determine changes in Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) following adjunctive CT and/or NAC treatment, and to explore the predictability of the outcome or moderator effects of these markers. RESULTS: In the NAC-treated group, no difference was observed in serum IL-6 and TAC levels after 16 weeks of treatment with NAC or CT. However, results from a moderator analysis showed that in the CT group, lower IL-6 levels at baseline was a significant moderator of MADRS χ2 (df) = 4.90, p = 0.027) and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I, χ2 (df) = 6.28 p = 0.012). In addition, IL-6 was a non-specific but significant predictor of functioning (based on the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS)), indicating that individuals with higher IL-6 levels at baseline had a greater improvement on SOFAS regardless of their treatment (p = 0.023). CONCLUSION: Participants with lower IL-6 levels at baseline had a better response to the adjunctive treatment with the mitochondrial-enhancing agents in terms of improvements in MADRS and CGI-I outcomes.

The Current and Future Potential of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation With Electroencephalography in Psychiatry.

The search for biological targets in psychiatric disorders is essential to better understand illness mechanisms and also to monitor and predict response to currently available therapeutic interventions. To this end, the combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation with electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) has emerged as a powerful clinical research tool. TMS-EEG allows cortical properties, such as excitability, inhibition, oscillatory activity, and connectivity, to be directly probed within a specific region of the cortex. This review will summarize the state of the current literature on TMS-EEG and its potential to uncover biological targets in psychiatric illnesses, with a focus on major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Collectively, the reviewed studies suggest that alterations in gamma-aminobutyric acid-mediated inhibition and gamma oscillations in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and neighboring frontal regions are potential shared biomarkers in psychiatry, highlighting the potential of TMS-EEG to help identify translational biomarkers.

Role of glia in prefrontal white matter abnormalities in first episode psychosis or mania detected by diffusion tensor spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND: White matter (WM) abnormalities are amongst the most commonly described neuroimaging findings in patients with psychotic disorders including schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD), and may be central to pathophysiology. Few studies have directly compared WM abnormalities in patients with SZ and BD in the first episode of illness, and no studies to date have attempted to separate abnormalities of axon and myelin using complementary MRI techniques. METHODS: We examined WM abnormalities in young adults with SZ (n = 19) or BD (n = 16) within the first year of illness onset, and healthy controls (n = 22) using a combination of diffusion tensor spectroscopy to measure NAA, creatine (Cr), and choline (Cho), and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR). MTR reflects myelin content, NAA diffusion is neuron specific, and Cr and Cho diffusion reflect both neuron and glial signal. RESULTS: We found no differences in MTR or NAA ADC in either patient group compared to controls, but significant elevations of both Cr and Cho diffusion in patients with SZ, and elevations of Cho diffusion in patients with BD. Elevations in Cr and Cho diffusion in the absence of NAA diffusion abnormalities indicate that the aberrant signal arises in glia. CONCLUSIONS: Glial abnormalities were present and detectable by the first episode of psychosis, whereas major abnormalities in axon and myelin were not. Examination of these neurobiological markers early in the course of illness may clarify the neuroprogressive nature of these distinct aspects of WM, and their associations with early clinical phenotypes.

Decreased percentage of CD4+ lymphocytes expressing chemokine receptors in bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Although accumulating evidence supports the hypothesis that immune/inflammatory mechanisms are associated with the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD), data about the profile of chemokines (chemotactic cytokines) and chemokine receptors are still scarce. The current study was designed to evaluate the expression of chemokine receptors on lymphocytes of patients with BD in comparison with controls. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with type I BD (N = 21 in euthymia; N = 6 in mania/hypomania; N = 6 in depression) and 22 age- and sex-matched controls were subjected to clinical evaluation and peripheral blood draw. The expression of chemokine receptors CCR3, CCR5, CXCR4, and CXCR3 on CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes was assessed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Patients with BD had decreased percentage of CD4+CXCR3+ (p = 0.024), CD4+CCR3+ (p = 0.042), and CD4+CCR5+ (0.013) lymphocytes in comparison with controls. The percentage of both CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes expressing the chemokine receptor CXCR4 was similar in patients with BD and controls. Likewise, the percentages of CD8+CXCR3+, CD8+CCR3+, and CD8+CCR5+ lymphocytes were similar in patients with BD and controls. CONCLUSION: Our findings reinforce the hypothesis that immune pathways, especially involving CD4+ lymphocytes, are involved in the physiopathology of BD.

Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation with lithium and aripiprazole for improving the balance of circulating hormones and brain neurotransmitters in manic mice model.

The present study was designed to evaluate the combined effect of lithium and aripiprazole supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids in methylphenidate (MPD)-induced manic mice. Swiss albino mice were administered with MPD or saline for 14 days, and based on changes in behavioral activities animals were treated with lithium, aripiprazole, and omega-3 fatty acids from the 8th day. Behavioral patterns were analyzed by video tracking. Thyroxine, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone levels were assayed in serum using ELISA kits. The levels of neurotransmitters in the whole brain were analyzed spectrofluorometrically. Glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK3ß) mice brain mRNA expression levels and phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) protein levels were measured using RT-PCR and western blot, respectively. Results indicated that the administration of MPD alters the behavioral activity, thyroid hormones, FSH, LH, and testosterone levels. Lithium, aripiprazole, and omega-3 fatty acids alone significantly reduced MPD-induced behavior, hormonal, and neurotransmitter abnormalities. However, GSK3ß and pAkt in the brain showed no significant differences in the level of expression. These results reveal that the combination of lithium and aripiprazole supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids provide protective effects against MPD-induced neuroendocrine system and multiple neurochemical abnormalities.

The thalamic reticular nucleus in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: role of parvalbumin-expressing neuron networks and oxidative stress.

Growing evidence points to a disruption of cortico-thalamo-cortical circuits in schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). Clues for a specific involvement of the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) come from its unique neuronal characteristics and neural connectivity, allowing it to shape the thalamo-cortical information flow. A direct involvement of the TRN in SZ and BD has not been tested thus far. We used a combination of human postmortem and rodent studies to test the hypothesis that neurons expressing parvalbumin (PV neurons), a main TRN neuronal population, and associated Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-labeled perineuronal nets (WFA/PNNs) are altered in SZ and BD, and that these changes may occur early in the course of the disease as a consequence of oxidative stress. In both disease groups, marked decreases of PV neurons (immunoreactive for PV) and WFA/PNNs were observed in the TRN, with no effects of duration of illness or age at onset. Similarly, in transgenic mice with redox dysregulation, numbers of PV neurons and WFA/PNN+PV neurons were decreased in transgenic compared with wild-type mice; these changes were present at postnatal day (P) 20 for PV neurons and P40 for WFA/PNN+PV neurons, accompanied by alterations of their firing properties. These results show profound abnormalities of PV neurons in the TRN of subjects with SZ and BD, and offer support for the hypothesis that oxidative stress may play a key role in impacting TRN PV neurons at early stages of these disorders. We put forth that these TRN abnormalities may contribute to disruptions of sleep spindles, focused attention and emotion processing in these disorders.

Choline Compounds of the Frontal Lobe and Temporal Glutamatergic System in Bipolar and Schizophrenia Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study.

PURPOSE: Modern neuroimaging techniques allow investigating brain structures and substances involved in the pathophysiology of mental disorders, trying to find new markers of these disorders. To better understanding of the pathophysiology and differential diagnosis of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, this study was conducted to assess the neurochemical alterations in the frontal and temporal lobes in hospitalized patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. METHODS: Twenty-one subjects with schizophrenia (paranoid and differentiated types), 16 subjects with bipolar I disorder (manic, depressive, and mixed episode), and 20 healthy subjects were studied. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and proton resonance magnetic spectroscopy (1H MRS) were performed on a 1.5 T scanner. Voxels of 8 cm3 were positioned in the left frontal and left temporal lobes. RESULTS: Glx/H2O (GABA, glutamine, and glutamate/nonsuppressed water signal) ratios were significantly increased in the left temporal lobe in schizophrenia, but not in bipolar disorder, compared with controls. Cho/H2O (choline/nonsuppressed water signal) ratios in the left frontal lobe had a tendency to increase in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, relative to controls. A lower temporal lobe NAA/H2O ratio in mixed than in manic and depressive episode of bipolar patients was also found. No other significant differences were found among three studied groups as regards NAA, Cr, and mI ratios. CONCLUSIONS: Our results partially confirm the role of a glutamatergic system in schizophrenia, however, only in a temporal lobe. We also point to the importance of the choline-containing compounds (marker of cellular density) in the frontal lobe of patients suffering from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. We also found the deleterious effect of mixed bipolar episode on the integrity and functioning of the temporal lobe. Glutamatergic left temporal spectroscopic changes may potentially help in differential diagnosis of schizophrenia from bipolar disorder.

Evidence for altered cell membrane lipid composition in postmortem prefrontal white matter in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Brain imaging suggests that white matter abnormalities, including compromised white matter integrity in the frontal lobe, are shared across bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SCZ). However, the precise molecular and cellular correlates remain to be elucidated. Given evidence for widespread alterations in cell membrane lipid composition in both disorders, we sought to investigate whether lipid composition is disturbed in frontal white matter in SCZ and BD. The phospholipids phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) were quantified in white matter adjacent to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in subjects with BD (n = 34), SCZ (n = 35), and non-psychiatric controls (n = 35) using high-pressure liquid chromatography. Individual fatty acid species and plasmalogens were then quantified separately in PE and PC fractions by gas liquid chromatography. PC was significantly lower in the BD group, compared to controls. The fatty acids PE22:0, PE24:1 and PE20:2n6 were higher, and PC20:4n6, PE22:5n6 and PC22:5n6 lower in the BD group, relative to the control group. PE22:1 was higher and PC20:3n6, PE22:5n6 and PC22:5n6 lower in the SCZ group, compared to the control group. These data provide evidence for altered lipid composition in white matter in both BD and SCZ. Changes in white matter lipid composition could ultimately contribute to dysfunction of frontal white matter circuits in SCZ and BD.

Sexually Dimorphic Changes of Hypocretin (Orexin) in Depression.

BACKGROUND: Neurophysiological and behavioral processes regulated by hypocretin (orexin) are severely affected in depression. However, alterations in hypocretin have so far not been studied in the human brain. We explored the hypocretin system changes in the hypothalamus and cortex in depression from male and female subjects. METHODS: We quantified the differences between depression patients and well-matched controls, in terms of hypothalamic hypocretin-1 immunoreactivity (ir) and hypocretin receptors (Hcrtr-receptors)-mRNA in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. In addition, we determined the alterations in the hypocretin system in a frequently used model for depression, the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rat. RESULTS: i) Compared to control subjects, the amount of hypocretin-immunoreactivity (ir) was significantly increased in female but not in male depression patients; ii) hypothalamic hypocretin-ir showed a clear diurnal fluctuation, which was absent in depression; iii) male depressive patients who had committed suicide showed significantly increased ACC Hcrt-receptor-2-mRNA expression compared to male controls; and iv) female but not male CUMS rats showed a highly significant positive correlation between the mRNA levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone and prepro-hypocretin in the hypothalamus, and a significantly increased Hcrt-receptor-1-mRNA expression in the frontal cortex compared to female control rats. CONCLUSIONS: The clear sex-related change found in the hypothalamic hypocretin-1-ir in depression should be taken into account in the development of hypocretin-targeted therapeutic strategies.

Brain bioenergetics and redox state measured by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy in unaffected siblings of patients with psychotic disorders.

BACKGROUND: Brain bioenergetic anomalies and redox dysregulation have been implicated in the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders. The present study examined brain energy-related metabolites and the balance between nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide metabolites (oxidized NAD+ and reduced NADH) using 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) in unaffected siblings, compared to first episode psychosis (FEP) patients and healthy controls. METHODS: 21 unaffected siblings, 32 FEP patients (including schizophrenia spectrum and affective psychoses), and 21 controls underwent 31P-MRS in the frontal lobe (6×6×4cm3) on a 4T MR scanner, using custom-designed dual-tuned surface coil with outer volume suppression. Brain parenchymal pH and steady-state metabolite ratios of high energy phosphate compounds were measured. NAD+ and NADH levels were determined using a 31P-MRS fitting algorithm. 13 unaffected sibling-patient pairs were related; other patients and siblings were unrelated. ANCOVA analyses were used to examine 31P-MRS measures, with age and gender as covariates. RESULTS: The phosphocreatine/adenosine triphosphate ratio was significantly reduced in both unaffected siblings and FEP patients, compared to controls. NAD+/NADH ratio was significantly reduced in patients compared to siblings and controls, with siblings showing a reduction in NAD+/NADH compared to controls that was not statistically significant. Compared to patients and controls, siblings showed significantly reduced levels of NAD+. Siblings did not differ from patients or controls on brain pH. DISCUSSION: Our results indicate that unaffected siblings show some, but not all the same abnormalities in brain energy metabolites and redox state as FEP patients. Thus, 31P-MRS studies may identify factors related both to risk and expression of psychosis.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Mood Stabilizers Alter Behavioural and Energy Metabolism Parameters in Animals Subjected to an Animal Model of Mania Induced by Fenproporex.

Studies have shown that changes in energy metabolism are involved in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD). It was suggested that omega-3 (ω3) fatty acids have beneficial properties in the central nervous system and that this fatty acid plays an important role in energy metabolism. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate the effect of ω3 fatty acids alone and in combination with lithium (Li) or valproate (VPA) on behaviour and parameters of energy metabolism in an animal model of mania induced by fenproporex. Our results showed that co-administration of ω3 fatty acids and Li was able to prevent and reverse the increase in locomotor and exploratory activity induced by fenproporex. The combination of ω3 fatty acids with VPA was only able to prevent the fenproporex-induced hyperactivity. For the energy metabolism parameters, our results showed that the administration of Fen for the reversal or prevention protocol inhibited the activities of succinate dehydrogenase, complex II and complex IV in the hippocampus. However, hippocampal creatine kinase (CK) activity was decreased only for the reversal protocol. The ω3 fatty acids, alone and in combination with VPA or Li, prevented and reversed the decrease in complex II, IV and succinate dehydrogenase activity, whereas the decrease in CK activity was only reversed after the co-administration of ω3 fatty acids and VPA. In conclusion, our results showed that the ω3 fatty acids combined with VPA or Li were able to prevent and reverse manic-like hyperactivity and the inhibition of energy metabolism in the hippocampus, suggesting that ω3 fatty acids may play an important role in the modulation of behavioural parameters and energy metabolism.

Preventive effects of blueberry extract on behavioral and biochemical dysfunctions in rats submitted to a model of manic behavior induced by ketamine.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of blueberry extract on oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters in a model of mania induced by ketamine administration in rats. Male rats were pretreated with blueberry extract (200mg/kg, once a day for 14days), lithium chloride (45mg/kg, mood stabilizer used as a positive control, twice a day for 14days), or vehicle. Between the 8th and 14th days, rats also received an injection of ketamine (25mg/kg) or vehicle. In the 15th day, thirty minutes after ketamine administration the hyperlocomotion of the animals was assessed in the open - field apparatus. Immediately after the behavioral analysis brain and blood were collected for biochemical determinations. ketamine treatment induced hyperlocomotion and oxidative damage in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum such as an increase in lipid peroxidation and a decrease in the antioxidant enzymes activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase e glutatione peroxidase). Ketamine administration also increased the IL-6 levels in serum in rats. Pretreatment of rats with blueberry extract or lithium prevented the hyperlocomotion, pro - oxidant effects and inflammation induced by ketamine. Our findings suggest that blueberry consumption has a neuroprotective potential against behavioral and biochemical dysfunctions induced in a preclinical model that mimic some aspects of the manic behavior.

Emergent treatments based on the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder: A selective review.

Bipolar disorder is a chronic psychiatric disorder that is a cause of significant symptomatology even in the setting of optimal treatment. Most current treatments are developed from serendipity, and not based on known pathophysiology. In this review we examine a number of somatic and pharmacologic therapies that are poised to become part of the armamentarium of interventions to treat bipolar illness. As a group, these interventions are derived from a growing understanding of the biological underpinnings of bipolar disorders. We will look at emergent treatments based on our understanding of the molecular biology, neuroanatomy, and the genetics of bipolar disorder.

Decreased brain PME/PDE ratio in bipolar disorder: a preliminary (31) P magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to measure brain phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31) P MRS) metabolite levels and the creatine kinase reaction forward rate constant (kf ) in subjects with bipolar disorder (BD). METHODS: Subjects with bipolar euthymia (n = 14) or depression (n = 11) were recruited. Healthy comparison subjects (HC) (n = 23) were recruited and matched to subjects with BD on age, gender, and educational level. All studies were performed on a 3-Tesla clinical magnetic resonance imaging system using a (31) P/(1) H double-tuned volume head coil. (31) P spectra were acquired without (1) H-decoupling using magnetization-transfer image-selected in vivo spectroscopy. Metabolite ratios from a brain region that includes the frontal lobe, corpus callosum, thalamus, and occipital lobe are expressed as a percentage of the total phosphorus (TP) signal. Brain pH was also investigated. RESULTS: Beta-nucleoside-triphosphate (ß-NTP/TP) in subjects with bipolar depression was positively correlated with kf (p = 0.039, r(2) = 0.39); similar correlations were not observed in bipolar euthymia or HC. In addition, no differences in kf and brain pH were observed among the three diagnostic groups. A decrease in the ratio of phosphomonoesters to phosphodiesters (PME/PDE) was observed in subjects with bipolar depression relative to HC (p = 0.032). We also observed a trend toward an inverse correlation in bipolar depression characterized by decreased phosphocreatine and increased depression severity. CONCLUSIONS: In our sample, kf was not altered in the euthymic or depressed mood state in BD. However, decreased PME/PDE in subjects with bipolar depression was consistent with differences in membrane turnover. These data provide preliminary support for alterations in phospholipid metabolism and mitochondrial function in bipolar depression.