Abstract

Time-dependent changes in affective behavior following intracerebroventricular administration of FGF9.

E. L. GULA; C. A. TURNER; H. AKIL; S. J. WATSON
Society for Neuroscience. 2008.

Abstract

Previously, we have shown that the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) system is dysregulated in post-mortem brains of individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD). In order to understand the complex interaction of this growth factor system in vivo, we have adopted a behavioral pharmacology approach to assess emotionality in adult Sprague Dawley rats and in animal models of depression. We have shown that acute intracerebroventricular administration of FGF2 and FGF9 have opposing effects on affective behaviors. To assess the timecourse of the FGF9 effects, we tested behavior at fifteen minutes and twenty-four hours following acute injection. These findings indicate that administration of FGF9 can rapidly alter both anxiety-like and depression-like behavior. However, a single adult injection does not have a persistent effect on affective behavior. Currently, we are assessing the effect of chronic FGF9 administration on affective behaviors as measured by the forced swim test and elevated plus maze. We also plan to determine FGF9 gene expression levels in animal models of depression-like and anxiety-like behavior. These studies suggest that FGF9 may play a role in the modulation of affective behavior.