Hyperthermia protects mice against chronic unpredictable stress-induced anxiety-like behaviour and hippocampal CA3 cell apoptosis

摘要

Purpose: It is widely accepted that chronic stress can induce anxiety; however, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of stress-induced anxiety are far from being elucidated. Hyperthermia has been shown to induce expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) to provide protection against a variety of stresses. To our knowledge, the effect of hyperthermia on the development of chronic unpredictable stress (CUS)-induced anxiety has not been studied. This study was to determine the relationship between hyperthermia induced Hsp72 and CUS related anxiety. Materials and methods: Heat shock factor 1 knockout (hsf1sup?/?/sup) and wild-type (hsf1sup+/+/sup) mice were subjected to CUS with or without hyperthermia treatment. Anxiety-like behaviours were evaluated by elevated plus maze and open field tests. Apoptosis in the hippocampal CA3 area was detected by TUNEL staining. Hsp72 protein level in the hippocampus was measured by Western blot. Results: CUS caused significant apoptosis in hippocampal CA3 cells in both hsf1sup?/?/sup and hsf1sup+/+/sup mice, which significantly correlated with anxiety-like behaviours. Hyperthermia induced Hsp72 expression in hsf1sup+/+/sup mice, but not in hsf1sup?/?/sup mice. Importantly, hyperthermia protected hsf1sup+/+/sup mice against developing CUS-related anxiety-like behaviours and reduced CUS-induced apoptosis in hippocampal CA3 cells. In contrast, hyperthermia exhibited no protective role in hsf1sup?/?/sup mice. Conclusions: Apoptosis of hippocampal CA3 cells is involved in the development of anxiety-like behaviours underlying CUS. Hsp72 protein is a crucial player in the protective effect of hyperthermia against CUS-induced apoptosis and development of anxiety-like behaviours. Our study suggests hyperthermia is an effective treatment for CUS-induced mood disorders.