Sheng li xue bao : [Acta physiologica Sinica]
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Accumulating evidence indicates an important role of hippocampal dendrite atrophy in the development of depression, while neuropeptide Y (NPY) participates in hippocampal dendrite growth. The present study was aimed to investigate the relationship between NPY and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression. CUMS-induced depression model was established in Sprague-Dawley rats. ⋯ Intrahippocampal microinjections of L-NAME suppressed the depression-like behavioral changes induced by CUMS or intrahippocampal microinjection of GR231118. In conclusion, reduced expression of NPY and increased expression of NOS in hippocampus may make significant contributions to CUMS-induced depression. These results suggest that the antidepressant function of NPY associates with down-regulation of NOS expression in hippocampus, possibly mediated via NPY-Y1 receptor.