Citalopram alleviates chronic stress induced depression-like behaviors in rats by activating GSK3β signaling in dorsal hippocampus

Aside from monoamine disturbances, recent evidence has implicated particular intracellular pathways, including Wnt signaling, in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder. In the present study, we investigated the role of Wingless (Wnt)-Dishevelled (DVL)-glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) signaling in the depression-like behaviors exhibited by rats exposed to chronic forced swim stress. We found that the rats subjected to forced swim stress for 14 consecutive days exhibited obvious depression-like behaviors and showed decreased levels of phosphorylated GSK3β and β-catenin in the hippocampus. Chronic citalopram treatment alleviated the depression-like behaviors and reversed the disruptions of the phosphorylated GSK3β and β-catenin in stressed rats. Furthermore, when the stressed rats with citalopram treatment received bilateral, dorsal hippocampus infusions of a DVL inhibitor, sulindac, the depression-like effects induced by chronic stress reappeared. These findings suggest that the Wnt-DVL-GSK3β signaling in the hippocampus is markedly involved in the pathophysiology of depression induced by chronic stress. The Wnt-DVL-GSK3β pathway may mediate the therapeutic action of citalopram, and the manipulation of DVL could be a target for novel antidepressants.

► Stress induced depression is associated with reduced p-GSK3β in hippocampus.
► Citalopram alleviates depressive behaviors with normalized GSK3β signaling.
► Intra-hippocampal infusion of sulindac reverses the effect of citalopram.