RÉSUMÉ
BACKGROUND: Sleep disorders (SD) are one of the common manifestations of depression patients. This article aimed to explore the effect of Agomelatine (Ago) on SD in chronic restraint stress (CRS) depression model mice and its effect on the activity of neurons in the lateral habenula (LHb). METHODS: 30 C57BL/6 J mice were divided into normal (C57BL/6 J) group, CRS group, and Ago group. CRS experiment was used to establish the depression model, and Ago was used to treat CRS mice. Based on behavioral tests in mice and electrophysiology record, SD and LHb neuron activity were assessed. The expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nuclear phosphoprotein (c-Fos) in LHb were detected by Western blot (WB). RESULTS: As against the CRS group, the Ago group had a reduction in the immobility time during forced swimming training and an increase in the preference for sucrose in the sucrose preference test; The expression levels of c-Fos and BDNF proteins in the LHb neurons of the Ago group mice were lower than those in the CRS group (P < 0.05), and the values approached the levels of the normal control group. In both dark and light environments, the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep duration of the CRS group mice was significantly longer than that of the normal control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that Ago may intervene in the depressive-like behavior and overall sleep patterns of CRS depression model mice by regulating the activity of LHb neurons and inhibiting the neuroinflammatory process. This provides a potential drug target for the development of new treatment strategies for depression.