Major depression is usually accompanied by inflammation response,increased stress hormones and the change of cellular membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFAs)composition. PUFAs are important components of the neurons and immune cellular membranes. Eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA)is a natural anti-inflammatory active substance that can improve depression. To investigate the effect of EPA on depression-like behaviors,peripheral immune and fatty acid composition in brain of animal models of depression. After chronic unpredictable mild stress was used to induce depression model;body weight,sucrose preferences and open field were tested as depression behavioral;corticosterone concentrations in serum and phagocytosis of macrophages were measured to analyze the function of peripheral immune;gas chromatography was used to detect the composition of f n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in the brain. Compared to controls,stress significantly decreased body weight,sucrose intake, horizontal movement and vertical movement of open field test,while the macrophage phagocytosis increased significantly. Furthermore,a decreased EPA,DPA and n-3/n-6 PUFAs were found in the brain of stress group. However,feeding EPA significantly improved the above abnormal changes caused by chronicstress. The research shows that chronic stress induces the changes of immune activation and PUFAs composition of cell membranes in rats. EPA can improve the depression-like changes and the mechanism may be implicated in rebalance of immune activation of macrophage and composition of n-3 and n-6fatty acids in the brain.%利用慢性不可预知轻度应激诱导大鼠抑郁模型,以体质量、糖水偏好和旷场实验作为抑郁样行为评价指标,以腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬能力、皮质酮激素水平为外周免疫和应激激素指标,测定脑内多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFAs)探讨脑内细胞膜组成的变化.结果表明:与对照组相比,应激组大鼠在体质量、糖水偏好及旷场实验中穿越格数和站立次数均有明显下降,而皮质酮激素和腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬能力均显著增加,脑内n-3 PUFAs、n-3/n-6 PUFAs减少,喂饲EPA可显著改善应激引起的变化.
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