Key result
Antidepressant-induced platelet BDNF release falls up to ~43% in depressed rats, linked to increased TrkB expression.
Why the study?
Serum BDNF is decreased in depression and platelets are considered its source, but the effect of depression itself on antidepressant-induced platelet BDNF release was unknown.
In a rat model of depression, decreased platelet BDNF release in response to antidepressants and increased TrkB expression suggest altered peripheral BDNF-TrkB modulation.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Should not change clinical practice in depression; leaves open platelet BDNF-TrkB signaling alterations in antidepressant response.
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) release from platelets in a rat model of depression focusing on the BDNF receptor, tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB). Several recent studies have suggested that serum levels of BDNF are decreased in depression, and this decrease is thought to reflect BDNF levels in the brain.Because the source of serum BDNF is considered to be the platelets, we have confirmed that antidepressants release BDNF from platelets. However, the effect of depression itself on BDNF release is unknown.Methods: We prepared depressed rats by repeated injections of corticosterone (20 mg/kg) for 21 consecutive days. We used washed platelet samples prepared from rats, measured platelet BDNF release in response to antidepressants, and evaluated the change of TrkB expression in platelets in depressive states.Results: BDNF release from platelets was reduced by sertraline (15%), milnacipran (15%), paroxetine (37%), and fl uvoxamine (43%) in depression model rats compared with controls. This release was suppressed by K252a, a TrkB inhibitor. Moreover, platelet expression of both full-length and truncated TrkB isoforms were increased in depressed rats.Conclusions: Decreased platelet BDNF release induced by antidepressants explains the decreased serum BDNF concentration seen in depression, and changes in TrkB expression might alter BDNF release from platelets. We suggest that in depression BDNF-TrkB modulation in platelets is associated with peripheral BDNF changes.
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Kimihiko et al. (2017) studied Depression (rat model) (n=21). Antidepressants (sertraline, milnacipran, paroxetine, fluvoxamine) vs. Control rats (vehicle) was evaluated on Platelet BDNF release in response to antidepressants (p=<0.05). Antidepressant-induced BDNF release from platelets was reduced by 15% to 43% in a rat model of depression compared to controls, associated with increased platelet TrkB expression.
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