Effect of Short Photoperiod on Behavior and Brain Plasticity in Mice Differing in Predisposition to Catalepsy: The Role of BDNF and Serotonin System

Abstract

Seasonal affective disorder is characterized by depression during fall/winter as a result of shorter daylight. Catalepsy is a syndrome of some grave mental diseases. Both the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are involved in the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying catalepsy and depressive disorders. The aim was to compare the response of behavior and brain plasticity to photoperiod alterations in catalepsy-resistant C57BL/6J and catalepsy-prone CBA/Lac male mice. Mice of both strains were exposed for six weeks to standard-day (14 h light/10 h darkness) or short-day (4 h light/20 h darkness) conditions. Short photoperiod increased depressive-like behavior in both strains. Only treated CBA/Lac mice demonstrated increased cataleptic immobility, decreased brain 5-HT level, and the expression of Tph2 gene encoding the key enzyme for 5-HT biosynthesis. Mice of both strains maintained under short-day conditions, compared to those under standard-day conditions, showed a region-specific decrease in the brain transcription of the Htr1a, Htr4, and Htr7 genes. After a short photoperiod exposure, the mRNA levels of the BDNF-related genes were reduced in CBA/Lac mice and were increased in the C57BL/6J mice. Thus, the predisposition to catalepsy considerably influences the photoperiodic changes in neuroplasticity, wherein both C57BL/6J and CBA/Lac mice can serve as a powerful tool for investigating the link between seasons and mood.