Pharmacopsychiatry 2021; 54(03): 101-105
DOI: 10.1055/a-1291-8079
Original Paper

Alterations in BDNF Protein Concentrations in the Hippocampus do not Explain the Pro-Neurogenic Effect of Citalopram on Adult Neurogenesis

Markus Petermann
1   Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
2   Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
,
Golo Kronenberg
3   University of Leicester and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Leicester, UK
4   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
,
Valentina Mosienko
1   Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
9   current address: University of Exeter, College of Medicine and Health, EX4 4PS, Exeter, UK
,
Michael Bader
1   Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
2   Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
5   Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
6   DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin, Germany
7   University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
,
Natalia Alenina
1   Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
6   DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin, Germany
8   Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Science, St. Petersburg, Russia
,
Rainer Hellweg
4   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
,
1   Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
2   Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
4   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Funding: This work was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (KL 2805/1–1) and Rahel Hirsch Fellowship to F.K., the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) translational PhD grant (K24202000001) to M.P., G.K., and M.B. and the Northcott Devon Medical Trust Foundation Grant to V.M. (TB/MG/NO5002).

Abstract

Introduction Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in the pro-neurogenic effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. In this study, we used Tph2 −/− mice lacking brain serotonin to dissect the interplay between BDNF and the serotonin system in mediating the effects of antidepressant pharmacotherapy on adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus.

Methods Besides citalopram (CIT), we tested tianeptine (TIA), an antidepressant whose mechanism of action is not well understood. Specifically, we examined cell survival and endogenous concentrations of BDNF following daily injection of the drugs.

Results Twenty-one days of CIT, but not of TIA, led to a significant increase in the survival of newly generated cells in the dentate gyrus of wild-type mice, without a significant effect on BDNF protein levels by either treatment. In Tph2 −/− mice, adult neurogenesis was consistently increased. Furthermore, Tph2 −/− mice showed increased BDNF protein levels, which were not affected by TIA but were significantly reduced by CIT.

Discussion We conclude that the effects of CIT on adult neurogenesis are not explained by changes in BDNF protein concentrations in the hippocampus.

* These authors contributed equally.




Publication History

Received: 18 August 2020
Received: 09 October 2020

Accepted: 12 October 2020

Article published online:
16 November 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 
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