Brain region-specific roles of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in social stress-induced depressive-like behavior

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a key factor in stress adaptation and avoidance of a social stress behavioral response.Recent studies have shown that brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in stressed mice is brain region–specific,particularly involving the corticolimbic system,including the ventral tegmental area,nucleus accumbens,prefrontal cortex,amygdala,and hippocampus.Determining how brain-derived neurotrophic factor participates in stress processing in different brain regions will deepen our understanding of social stress psychopathology.In this review,we discuss the expression and regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in stress-sensitive brain regions closely related to the pathophysiology of depression.We focused on associated molecular pathways and neural circuits,with special attention to the brain-derived neurotrophic factor–tropomyosin receptor kinase B signaling pathway and the ventral tegmental area–nucleus accumbens dopamine circuit.We determined that stress-induced alterations in brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels are likely related to the nature,severity,and duration of stress,especially in the above-mentioned brain regions of the corticolimbic system.Therefore,BDNF might be a biological indicator regulating stress-related processes in various brain regions.

Density-induced social stress alters oxytocin and vasopressin activities in the brain of a small rodent species

It is known that social stress could alter oxytocin(OT)and arginine-vasopressin(AVP)expression in specific regions of brains which regulate the aggressive behavior of small rodents,but the effects of density-induced social stress are still unknown.Brandt’s voles(Lasiopodomys brandtii)are small herbivores in the grassland of China,but the underlying neurological mechanism of population regulation is still unknown.We tested the effects of housing density of Brandt’s voles on OT/AVP system with physical contact(allowing aggression)and without physical contact(not allowing aggression)under laboratory conditions.Then,we tested the effects of paired-aggression(no density effect)of Brandt’s voles on OT/AVP system under laboratory conditions.We hypothesized that high density would increase aggression among animals which would then increase AVP but reduce OT in brains of animals.Our results showed that high housing density induced more aggressive behavior.We found high-densityinduced social stress(with or without physical contact)and direct aggression significantly increased expression of mRNA and protein of AVP and its receptor,but decreased expression of mRNA and protein of OT and its receptor in specific brain regions of voles.The results suggest that density-dependent change of OT/AVP systems may play a significant role in the population regulation of small rodents by altering density-dependent aggressive behavior.

Ginsenoside Rb1 produces antidepressant-like effects in chronic social defeat stress model of depression through BDNF-TrkB sig⁃naling pathway

OBJECTIVE Ginsenoside Rb1(Rb1),an important bioactive ingredient of Panax ginseng,has potent neuroprotective effects.The objective of the study is to elucidate the impact of Rb1 treatment on chronic social defeat stress(CSDS)-induced depressive-like behaviors and its related mechanism.METHODS AND RE⁃SULTS The daily oral administration of Rb1(35 and 70 mg·kg-1)and imipramine(15 mg·kg-1)for 28 d significantly reversed the social avoidance behavior,anhedonia,and behavioral despair via CSDS exposure,as demonstrated by the consid⁃erable elevation in the time in the zone in social interaction test and consumption of sucrose solu⁃tion in sucrose preference test and decrease of immobility time in forced swim test.Moreover,Rb1 obviously restored the CSDS-induced decrease of BDNF-signaling pathway and hippo⁃campal neurogenesis.Rb1 significantly increased the hippocampal levels of ERK,AKT,and CREB phosphorylation and increased the number of DCX+cells in DG.Importantly,the antidepres⁃sant effects of Rb1 were completely blocked in mice by using K252a(the nonselective tyrosine kinase B inhibitor).CONCLUSION Rb1 exerts promising antidepressant-like effects in mice with CSDS-induced depression,and its effects was facilitated by enhancing the BDNF signaling cas⁃cade and up-regulation of hippocampal neuro⁃genesis.

Relationship between acute stress and sleep disorder in grass-root military personnel:Mediating effect of social support

Background: To explore the relationship between acute stress, social support and sleep disorder in grass-root military personnel, and construct the relational model through structural equation modeling. Methods: A total of 2,411 grass-root military personnel were randomly selected by cluster sampling, and administered the Chinese Military Personnel Sleep Disorder Scale, Military Acute Stress Scale and Social Support Rating Scale.Results: The total score of acute stress scale was positively correlated with the total score and factor scores of sleep disorder scale(r=0.209~0.465, P<0.01); The total score of social support scale was positively correlated with the total score of acute stress scale and the total score and factor scores of sleep disorder scale(r=0.356~0.537, P<0.01). The analysis of mediating effects showed that lack of social support partially mediated between acute stress and the factors of sleep disorder. The analysis of structural equation model showed that acute stress not only had a direct effect on sleep disorder(the path coefficient was 0.29, P=0.000), but also on lack of social support(the path coefficient was 0.39, P=0.000); lack of social support had a direct effect on sleep disorder(the path coefficient was 0.48, P=0.000).Conclusions: Acute stress and lack of social support are two significant factors of sleep disorder in grass-root military personnel. Well-established social support could alleviate sleep disorder induced by acute stress. Lack of social support was a partial mediator between acute stress and sleep disorder.

Impact of social isolation and resident intruder stress on aggressive behavior in the male rat

Stress studies frequently utilize physical stressors to establish animal models of stress. In the majority of cases, these models are not consistent with human circumstances. The present study simulated a social isolation plus resident intruder stress model in the rat. The rats were subjected to daily social isolation and resident intruder stress for 2 weeks. Behaviors were then tested. Rats subjected to social stress exhibited different aggressive behavior styles; some rats had greater scores on composite aggression behaviors, as well as locomotor and exploratory activity, but lower scores on latency than others. The high-aggressive group exhibited predominantly anger-out, while the low-aggressive group exhibited anger-in. Results suggest that social isolation plus resident intruder may serve as an appropriate model for anger-in and anger-out emotion modeling in the rat.

Effects of Academic Stress and Perceived Social Support on the Psychological Wellbeing of Adolescents in Ghana

The purpose of this study was to examine how academic stress and perceived social support influence the psychological wellbeing of Senior High School students in Ghana. Two hundred and twenty six male and female students participated. The general health questionnaire, student life-stress inventory and perceived social support from family and friends scales were used to assess psychological wellbeing, academic stress and perceived social support respectively. The results indicated that perceived social support buffered the effects of academic stress on psychological wellbeing. Girls reported higher scores on perceived social support but reported more depression. Boys reported higher academic stress and better psychological wellbeing, and these have been attributed partly to the socialisation role of gender. These results have policy implications in respect of the creation of a cordial school environment as well as encouraging a healthy interpersonal relationship between adolescents and their family and friends with the aim of reducing academic stress appraisal which is inimical to the psychological wellbeing of adolescents.

Pathogenesis of chronic social defeat stress model induced depressive-like mouse model according to LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics

OBJECTIVE To explore the pathogenesis of depression according to the LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics in the mouse model which exhibits social avoidance state induced by the chronic social defeat stress model(CSDS).METHODS Twenty male C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into control group and model group suffering CSDS,and the ICR retired breeder mice were used to attack the model group for 14 d of chronic social defeated stress.The open field test and source preference test were both used to observe depression-like behavior.Besides,the social interaction test is used to observe the social interaction state,especially.After the stress,the serum samples of mice were collected,and the changes of endogenous metabolites were analyzed by LC-MS metabolomics technology,and the pathway analysis of the differential metabolites was performed to explore the pathogenesis of the CSDS induced depressive-like mouse model.RESULTS After the stress of CSDS was completed,the mice in the model group showed a significant slowdown in body weight growth,a reduction in the source preference rate,and a significant reduction in the total distance and the number of rearing in the open field test.Distinctively,the social interaction rate is remarkably decreasing.There are 24 differential metabolites found in the serum of CSDS model mice.CONCLUSION The mouse who suffered CSDS stress would show depressive-like behavior.Based on the LC-MS/MS metabolomics,24 differential metabolites were found in the serum of CSDS model mice.The amino acid metabolism might be significant to the pathogenesis of the CSDS induced depressive-like mouse model.

Pig Social Status and Chronic Cold or Crowd Stressors Differentially Impacted Immune Response

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of 4-day of cold and crowding stressors and social status on pig immune responsiveness to these stressors. Three unfamiliar white crossbred female pigs were mixed and assigned to ambient temperatures of either 8°C (COLD) or 22°C (control;TN) and floor-space of either 0.26 m2/pig (reduced, CROWD) or 0.45 m2/pig (adequate, CONT) over six blocks (n = 72). Pigs were identified as dominant (DOM), intermediate (INT), or submissive (SUB) based on aggressive encounters that occurred during the first 24-h post-mixing. There were no interactive effects of temperature × floor-space on immune indices. There was social status × stressor for body weight, natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and phagocytosis (P < 0.05). DOM pigs that were COLD or CROWD gained the least amount of body weight compared to either INT or SUB pigs (P < 0.01). INT and SUB pigs subjected to CROWD stress gained more weight compared to their counterparts subjected to COLD temperature or CONT floor-space (P < 0.05). NK cytotoxicity was greater among CROWD-INT pigs and phagocytosis was greater among COLD- and CROWD-SUB pigs. Also, INT pigs had lower T and B cell proliferation regardless of the stressor. COLD stress significantly reduced NK cytotoxicity, total Immunoglobulin-G, and B-cell proliferation and enhanced total WBC counts and T-cell proliferation. These data imply that various immune indices were either enhanced or suppressed by COLD stress, but concurrent exposure to CROWD stressor did not exacerbate these effects. Moreover, social status played a role in determining a pig’s immune responsiveness as it modulated differential homeostatic stress response as the pig attempted to cope with stress.

Path analysis of relationship among personality, perceived stress, coping, social support, and psychological outcomes

AIM: To provide a structural model of the relationship between personality traits, perceived stress, coping strategies, social support, and psychological outcomes in the general population.METHODS: This is a cross sectional study in which the study group was selected using multistage cluster and convenience sampling among a population of 4 million. For data collection, a total of 4763 individuals were asked to complete a questionnaire on demographics, personality traits, life events, coping with stress, social support, and psychological outcomes such as anxiety and depression. To evaluate the comprehensive relation-ship between the variables, a path model was fitted.RESULTS: The standard electronic modules showed that personality traits and perceived stress are important determinants of psychological outcomes. Social support and coping strategies were demonstrated to reduce the increasing cumulative positive effects of neuroticism and perceived stress on the psychological outcomes and enhance the protective effect of extraversion through decreasing the positive effect of perceived stress on the psychological outcomes. CONCLUSION: Personal resources play an important role in reduction and prevention of anxiety and depression. In order to improve the psychological health, it is necessary to train and reinforce the adaptive coping strategies and social support, and thus, to moderate negative personality traits.

Stress-relevant social behaviors of middle-class male cynomolgus monkeys （Macaca fascicularis）

Stress from dominance ranks in human societies, or that of other social animals, especially nonhuman primates, can have negative influences on health. Individuals holding different social status may be burdened with various stress levels. The middle class experiences a special stress situation within the dominance hierarchy due to its position between the higher and lower classes. Behaviorally, questions about where middle-class stress comes from and how individuals adapt to middle-class stress remain poorly understood in nonhuman primates. In the present study, social interactions, including aggression, avoidance, grooming and mounting behaviors, between beta males, as well as among group members holding higher or lower social status, were analyzed in captive male-only cynomolgus monkey groups. We found that aggressive tension from the higher hierarchy members was the main origin of stress for middle- class individuals. However, behaviors such as attacking lower hierarchy members immediately after being the recipient of aggression, as well as increased avoidance, grooming and mounting toward both higher and lower hierarchy members helped alleviate middle-class stress and were particular adaptations to middle-class social status.

产妇社会信任和心理弹性对产后创伤后应激障碍影响的路径分析

目的分析产妇社会信任和心理弹性对产后创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)影响的路径。方法采用创伤后应激障碍症状清单-平民版(PCL-C)、社会信任量表(STS)及心理弹性量表(CD-RISC)对312例产后产妇进行问卷调查。结果产妇产后PCL-C得分为(26.82±10.23)分;STS得分为(26.55±5.22)分;CD-RISC得分为(91.56±25.56)分。产妇产后STS和CD-RISC评分与PCL-C评分呈负相关(r=-0.177、-0.153,P<0.01),而STS评分与CD-RISC评分呈正相关(r=0.446,P<0.01)。心理弹性在社会信任与产后PTSD间的中介效应不显著,社会信任在心理弹性与产后PTSD间的中介效应不显著。结论心理弹性、社会信任与产后PTSD之间两两直接相关,即心理弹性直接影响产后PTSD,社会信任直接影响产后PTSD,心理弹性与社会信任间相互影响。

社会支持与大学生心理压力的关系路径研究--以内蒙古高校为例

本研究运用一般情况调查表、压力源量表与领悟社会支持量表等开展在线问卷调查,获得12670份有效问卷。从个人特征和社会支持两个方面来探究不同类型大学生心理压力的影响因素。结果发现学业、就业和经济压力是大学生群体主要的心理压力;学校类别、专业类别、年级、生源地、是否服用过精神科药物、是否单亲家庭和是否享受过助学金等因素对大学生心理压力有显著影响。研究结果显示,社会支持与大学生心理压力呈显著负相关。研究结果提示我们应提高对社会支持的重视程度,通过积极开展社会支持干预工作促进大学生心理健康。

女性压力性尿失禁病人心理资本现况及影响因素分析

目的 调查女性压力性尿失禁病人心理资本现状及其影响因素。方法 2021年6—12月便利抽取郑州市王立砦社区、陇海社区、侯寨社区的528例女性压力性尿失禁病人,使用一般资料问卷、心理资本问卷(PCQ-24)、社会支持评定量表(SSRS)进行调查。结果 女性压力性尿失禁病人心理资本总分为(120.51±7.58)分,多元线性回归分析显示,年龄、学历、漏尿次数、疾病严重程度、社会支持程度、认为漏尿不需要就诊是影响女性压力性尿失禁病人心理资本水平的主要因素(P<0.05)。结论女性压力性尿失禁病人的心理资本问题亟待重视,医护人员应先评估病人的心理水平,重视失禁症状的健康宣教,为病人提供心理资本在各个维度上的针对性护理干预,提高其心理资本水平。

肺癌住院患者家庭韧性现状及影响因素研究

目的调查肺癌住院患者的家庭韧性现状并分析其影响因素。方法使用便利抽样方法,选取2021年10月至2022年4月于我院胸部肿瘤科258例肺癌住院患者为研究对象,使用一般资料调查表、家庭韧性评定量表、心理韧性量表、领悟社会支持量表和压力知觉量表对其进行问卷调查。采用多元线性逐步回归模型分析患者家庭韧性影响因素。结果肺癌住院患者家庭韧性总分为(161.39±15.15)分。多元线性逐步回归分析结果显示,心理韧性、社会支持和压力知觉是肺癌住院患者家庭韧性的主要影响因素(P<0.05)。结论肺癌住院患者的家庭韧性处于中等水平,以家庭韧性为中心的干预措施应基于压力知觉、社会支持和心理韧性制定综合性方案,以促进肺癌患者及家庭的社会心理康复。

谷胱甘肽改善卒中后抑郁和慢性社会挫败应激小鼠行为及其机制研究

目的探究抑郁症的潜在致病机制及谷胱甘肽的改善作用。方法6~8周龄雄性C57BL/6J小鼠分为3组(n=20):无处理对照(SHAM)组、卒中后抑郁(post-stroke depression,PSD)模型组和慢性社会挫败应激(chronic social defeat depression,CSDS)模型组。通过旷场实验、高架十字实验、悬尾实验、糖水偏好实验等验证模型小鼠是否有抑郁样行为表现,取2种模型小鼠以及对照小鼠内侧前额叶皮层(medial prefrontal cortex,mPFC)进行神经递质靶向代谢组学测序。通过主成分分析(principle component analysis,PCA)、相关性分析等方法探索各组小鼠代谢物表达情况、筛选差异代谢物,利用京都基因与基因组百科全书(Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes,KEGG)预测与抑郁模型相关的代谢通路,并对关键差异代谢物谷胱甘肽(glutathione,GSH)的表达以及丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶4(glutathione peroxidase 4,GPX4)等铁死亡指标进行检测,外源性补充GSH观察模型小鼠抑郁样行为是否改善。结果神经递质靶向代谢组学分析结果显示3组小鼠代谢水平存在明显差异,在mPFC检测到的38种代谢物中,有6种在PSD组中特异性降低,有4种在CSDS组中特异性降低,而GSH、L-天冬酰胺和L-赖氨酸在PSD和CSDS组均表现出明显下降(P<0.05)。KEGG分析结果显示差异代谢物涉及到的主要通路有谷胱甘肽代谢,β-氨基酸代谢,丙氨酸、天冬氨酸和谷氨酸代谢等通路。还原型谷胱甘肽/氧化型谷胱甘肽(glutathione/oxidized glutathione,GSH/GSSG)试剂盒检测发现两种抑郁模型小鼠mPFC还原型GSH明显减少(P<0.05),铁死亡指标检测发现与对照组比较,两种抑郁模型小鼠存在MDA升高并且GPX4阳性细胞比例显著减少的表型(P<0.05),而对抑郁模型小鼠外源补充GSH可增加小鼠高架十字实验开臂时间和旷场实验中央区时间(P<0.05),并且降低悬尾实验静止不动时间(P<0.05),显著改善抑郁样行为表现。结论PSD以及CSDS小鼠脑组织存在13种代谢物失调,其中谷胱甘肽代谢异常引发的铁死亡可能在抑郁症发生中具有重要作用,外源性补充谷胱甘肽可以改善小鼠抑郁样行为。

精神分裂症患者的负性生活事件与复发:社会支持的调节作用

目的探讨精神分裂症患者负性生活事件、复发与社会支持之间的关系,以及社会支持在负性生活事件与复发之间的调节作用。方法采用便利抽样法,抽取宁夏精神卫生中心门诊就诊的215例精神分裂症患者。采用社会再适应评定量表(SRRS)、社会支持评定量表(SSRS)、简明精神病评定量表(BPRS)、临床总体印象-严重程度量表(CGI-S)、Morisky药物依从性量表-8(MMAS-8)分别对负性生活事件、社会支持、复发、疾病严重程度和药物依从性进行测量。采用Spearman相关分析探讨负性生活事件、复发和社会支持之间的相关性,采用二元Logistic回归分析探讨一般资料、负性生活事件、社会支持对复发的影响,采用SPSS PROCESS 3.4探讨社会支持对负性生活事件与复发的调节作用。结果负性生活事件与复发呈正相关(P<0.01),主观社会支持、客观社会支持和社会支持均与复发呈负相关(P均<0.05)。主观社会支持在负性生活事件和复发之间的调节作用显著(P<0.01)。结论负性生活事件和社会支持均与精神分裂症复发密切相关,主观社会支持在负性生活事件和复发之间起到调节作用。

五行音乐对孕期恐应激子代社交行为的影响及机制研究

目的探究五行音乐对孕期恐应激子代社交行为的影响和机制,为临床胎源性情志疾病的早期防治提供依据。方法将45只孕鼠随机分为空白组、模型组和五行音乐组。其中,模型组、五行音乐组均采用旁观电击法造模,五行音乐组在孕期的每天17:00~19:00播放五行音乐中的宫调。孕第19天对各组孕鼠采用ELISA法检测血清中促肾上腺皮质激素(adrenocorticotropic hormone,ACTH)和皮质醇(corticosterone,CORT)的含量进行造模评价。仔鼠延续母鼠的分组,于8周龄时进行三箱社交实验观察社交行为;免疫荧光双标法检测仔鼠内侧前额叶皮层(medial prefrontal cortex,mPFC)谷氨酸能神经元活性的表达;高效液相色谱法检测仔鼠mPFC区谷氨酸(glutamate,Glu)总含量;高尔基染色观察仔鼠mPFC区神经元树突棘的变化。结果与空白组相比,模型组孕鼠血清中ACTH、CORT含量显著上升,模型组仔鼠社交交互时间和社会新奇偏好指数显著降低,谷氨酸能神经元活性、谷氨酸含量及神经元树突棘显著下降。与模型组相比,五行音乐组孕鼠血清中ACTH、CORT的含量降低及仔鼠社交行为、谷氨酸能神经元活性、谷氨酸含量及神经元树突棘的状态得到改善。结论五行音乐干预能够有效改善孕期恐应激所致子代的社交行为障碍,其机制可能与增强mPFC区谷氨酸能神经元的活性有关。

大学生心理压力与问题性社交媒体使用的关系:抑郁的中介作用

目的 探讨大学生心理压力与问题性社交媒体使用的关系,以及抑郁在两者间的中介作用。方法 于2022年10—11月,采用中文版知觉压力量表、抑郁自评量表、问题性移动社交媒体使用评估问卷对376名大学生进行调查,分析各变量之间的关系,检验抑郁的中介效应。结果 知觉压力量表总分为(38.30±7.097)分。心理压力、问题性社交媒体使用程度、抑郁水平3个变量之间均呈现显著正相关关系(均P<0.01),心理压力对问题性社交媒体使用有直接正向预测作用(β=0.385,P<0.05)。抑郁在心理压力与问题性社交媒体使用之间的中介效应显著,间接效应为0.095,占总效应的24.68%,Bootstrap95%CI为0.007~0.182。结论 被调查群体存在较高的心理压力。抑郁作为中介变量影响心理压力与问题性社交媒体使用的关系。因此,对抑郁情绪和心理压力实施干预,能有效改善大学生问题性社交媒体使用状况。

高中生压力知觉与领悟社会支持、心理资本的关系:性别的调节作用

目的:探究高中生压力知觉、领悟社会支持、心理资本三者之间的关系,以及性别在其中的调节作用,寻找缓解高中生压力的有效对策,促进高中生健康成长。方法:使用中文版压力知觉量表、领悟社会支持量表、中国青少年心理资本量表对449名高一至高三学生进行问卷。结果:①高中生压力知觉、领悟社会支持、心理资本总分及各自的分维度之间均存在显著的两两相关;②心理资本在领悟社会支持和压力知觉之间起到部分中介的作用(β=-0.29,P<0.001),间接效应值为-0.25;③性别变量在领悟社会支持到心理资本的路径中起到调节作用(β=0.24,P<0.05)。结论:领悟社会支持可以直接影响压力知觉,也可以通过影响心理资本来间接影响压力知觉,提升高中生的领悟社会支持和心理资本水平可有效降低压力知觉水平;相比于高中男性,高中女性的领悟社会支持水平对其心理资本的促进作用更明显。

卒中后失语患者心理一致感评价和影响因素分析

目的评价卒中后失语患者心理一致感,分析影响卒中后失语患者心理一致感的因素。方法本研究为前瞻性观察性研究。连续招募2018年12月—2022年12月首都医科大学附属北京天坛医院收治的144例卒中后失语患者,采用一般资料调查问卷收集患者的临床资料,采用中国康复研究中心汉语标准失语症检查法(China rehabilitation research center aphasia examination,CRRCAE)评估失语程度,采用中文版心理一致感量表(sense of coherence-13 scale,SOC-13)、社会支持量表(social support scale,SSRS)、一般自我效能感量表(general self-efficacy scale,GSES)、中文版知觉压力量表(Chinese-version perceived stress scale,CPSS)评估患者的心理一致感、社会支持、自我效能和知觉压力。分析中文版SOC-13总分与SSRS、GSES、CPSS总分的相关性。使用多重线性回归分析影响卒中后失语患者心理一致感水平的因素。结果卒中后失语患者中文版SOC-13总分为(57.96±12.11)分,心理一致感处于低水平。卒中后失语患者中文版SOC-13总分与SSRS总分(r=0.592,P<0.05)、GSES总分(r=0.470,P<0.05)呈正相关,与CPSS总分呈负相关(r=-0.410,P<0.05)。多重线性回归分析显示,抑郁(β=1.006,P=0.001)、日常生活能力(β=1.124,P=0.003)、CRRCAE评分(β=1.325,P<0.001)、SSRS总分(β=1.123,P=0.009)、GSES总分(β=0.341,P=0.015)、CPSS总分(β=-0.402,P=0.023)是卒中后失语患者低中文版SOC-13总分的影响因素。结论卒中后失语患者心理一致感水平偏低。抑郁、日常生活能力、失语程度、社会支持、自我效能、知觉压力是患者心理一致感水平的影响因素。