Abstract

FGF-2, a possible predictor for emotional reactivity after environmental complexity.

J. Perez; C.A. Turner; C. Isgor; S.J. Watson; H. Akil
Society for Neuroscience 34th Annual Meeting. 2004.

While evidence has linked growth factors such as BDNF to environmental complexity (EC), responsiveness to stress, and antidepressant action, few studies focused on the role of the FGF system in emotional reactivity. Recent data from our laboratory suggest that a single postnatal injection of FGF-2 significantly alters locomotor activity in response to a novel environment (Turner et al., SFN abstracts 2004). Since increased responsiveness to novelty is associated with decreased anxiety-like behavior, we propose that FGF-2 may be correlated with other indices of emotionality. We tested the hypothesis that changes in emotionality associated with EC may be related to FGF-2 gene expression in the hippocampus. Young adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were either exposed to a complex environment for 21 days or to standard cages. Following this treatment, rats were returned to standard cages for two weeks. Brains were then processed for neurogenesis by BrdU and Ki-67 immunohistochemistry. Another group of rats was tested in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and then sacrificed for in situ hybridization. Compared to controls, EC rats showed significantly less anxiety-like behavior in the EPM and exhibited a 23% increase in FGF-2 expression in the hippocampus. There was a significant positive correlation between FGF-2 mRNA levels in hippocampal CA2 and time spent in the open arms of the EPM. Whether these results relate to levels of neurogenesis in the hippocampus is currently being determined. These findings are consistent with our observations in human postmortem brains (Evans et al, SfN Abstracts 2004) showing that expression of several members of the FGF family is decreased in major depression. Together, these findings implicate the FGF system in emotionality and mood disorders. Supported by: The Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Research Consortium Fund and NIMH PPG #MH42251-01.