Does exposure to chronic stress in rodents alter the level of SIRT1 in the nucleus accumbens?

Abstract

In this study we show that chronic social defeat stress, an ethologically validated model of depression in mice, stably induces SIRT1 levels in the nucleus accumbens, an area of the brain that is associated with motivation and reward. We exposed rodents to chronic social defeat stress for a period of ten days and then assessed the rodents on a social interaction test to determine stress response. Rodents were then classified as susceptible or resilient to chronic stress. SIRT1 mRNA and protein levels were then measured in the nucleus accumbens. Results showed that SIRT1 mRNA and protein levels were increased in susceptible rodents but not control or resilient rodents. This supports our hypothesis that SIRT1 levels are associated with depression and anxiety-like behaviors induced by chronic stress and may identify a novel signaling pathway for the treatment of major depressive disorders.