•Resolvin D1/D2 produce antidepressant effects in chronically stressed mice within 2 h.•Their antidepressant effects last 24 h without affecting locomotor activity.•Resolvin D1/D2 produce rapid and sustained antidepressant effects.Resolvin D1 (RvD1) and D2 (RvD2) are lipid mediators that are derived from docosahexaenoic acid. We recently demonstrated that intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusions of RvD1 or RvD2 attenuate lipopolysaccharide-induced depression-like behaviors via mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling. However, the antidepressant effects of RvD1 and RvD2 have not been fully investigated. Here, we examined the antidepressant effects of RvD1 and RvD2 using the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST) in murine chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) model. Male BALB/c mice (7 weeks) were subjected to 5 weeks of CUS and then received with a single i.c.v. infusion of RvD1 (10 ng), RvD2 (10 ng), or vehicle. In vehicle-infused mice, CUS significantly increased immobility in the TST both 2 and 24 h after i.c.v. infusion, these depression-like behaviors were significantly ameliorated by RvD1 or RvD2. Similar results were obtained from the FST. Intracerebroventricular infusion of RvD1 or RvD2 did not affect locomotor activity. These results demonstrate that RvD1 and RvD2 produce rapid and sustained antidepressant effects in the CUS model.

•Reward-induced dopamine release was suppressed by chronic mild stress in rats.•Escitalopram reversed chronic mild stress-induced suppression of dopamine release.•Dopamine release may be a useful indicator of therapeutic efficacy in depression.•Maternal separation diminished the effect of escitalopram in stressed rats.•Potential animal models for treatment-sensitive and treatment-resistant depression.Anhedonia, the loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyable activities, is a core symptom of major depressive disorder, suggesting that the brain reward system may be dysfunctional in this condition. Neurochemical changes in the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system are not fully understood in animal models of depression. We investigated reward (30% sucrose intake)-induced DA release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the effect of chronic treatment with the antidepressant escitalopram (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally twice daily for 3 weeks) in two animal models of depression. Exposure to chronic mild stress (CMS) during adulthood completely suppressed reward-induced intra-NAc DA release; however, this effect was reversed by chronic treatment with escitalopram. Our findings suggest that reward-induced intra-NAc DA release may be an indicator of depression severity and therapeutic efficacy. Exposure to neonatal maternal separation (MS) and CMS in adulthood completely suppressed reward-induced intra-NAc DA release. Chronic treatment with escitalopram did not restore reward-induced DA release in these animals, suggesting that this paradigm may serve as an animal model for treatment-resistant depression. Further study of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system in these animal models of depression may clarify the neural mechanisms underlying depression and treatment resistance.

Reactions of pyridynes with cyclic urea and 1-methyl-2-oxazolidone were demonstrated. 3,4-Pyridyne and 2,3-pyridyne were reacted with N,N-dimethylimidazolidone, N,N-dimethylpropylene urea, and 1-methyl-2-oxazolidone to give the corresponding pyridodiazepines, pyridodiazocines, and pyridooxazepines, respectively.

We examined the role of glutamatergic transmission within the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus (BLA) in pain-induced aversion using a conditioned place paradigm and an in vivo microdialysis technique in rats. Microinjection of MK-801 (1 or 10 nmol/side) into the bilateral BLA 5 min before intraplantar injection of formalin dose-dependently attenuated formalin-induced conditioned place aversion (F-CPA) without affecting nociceptive behaviors, such as lifting, licking, and biting. On the contrary, microinjection of neither CNQX (30 nmol/side) nor AP-3 (30 nmol/side) showed any significant effect on F-CPA. Microdialysis experiments revealed that intraplantar injection of formalin induced an increase in the extracellular glutamate level within the BLA. This increase in glutamate was suppressed by morphine perfusion (100 μM) via the microdialysis probe. Moreover, intra-BLA injection of morphine (10 μg/side) 5 min before formalin injection attenuated F-CPA without affecting nociceptive behaviors. These results suggest that glutamatergic transmission via NMDA receptors in the BLA plays a crucial role in the pain-induced aversion, and that in addition to the well-characterized effects on the sensory component of pain, morphine also influences the affective component of pain through an inhibitory effect on intra-BLA glutamatergic transmission.

•Blockade of glutamatergic transmission in the vBNST reduces pain-induced aversion.•Painful stimulus increases NO metabolites in the vBNST.•Blockade of nNOS-derived NO in the vBNST reduces pain-induced aversion.•Intra-vBNST injection of NO donor produces aversion.•NO-evoked excitation of vBNST neurons may be critical for pain-induced aversion.Pain consists of sensory and affective components. Although the neuronal mechanisms underlying the sensory component of pain have been studied extensively, those underlying its affective component are only beginning to be elucidated. Previously, we showed the pivotal role of the ventral part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (vBNST) in the negative affective component of pain. Here, we examined the role of glutamate-nitric oxide (NO) signaling in the affective component of pain in rats using a conditioned place aversion (CPA) test. Intra-vBNST injection of either CNQX (an AMPA receptor antagonist) or MK-801 (an NMDA receptor antagonist) dose-dependently attenuated intraplantar formalin-induced CPA (F-CPA) without reducing nociceptive behaviors. In vivo microdialysis showed that extracellular oxidative NO metabolites (NOx) levels were significantly increased by intraplantar formalin injection. Intra-vBNST injection of NPLA (a selective neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) inhibitor), c-PTIO (a NO scavenger), or ZL006 (a postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95)-nNOS interaction inhibitor) dose-dependently suppressed F-CPA without attenuating nociceptive behaviors. Intra-vBNST injection of NOR3 (a NO donor) produced CPA in a dose-dependent manner in the absence of noxious stimulation. Furthermore, whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology in the vBNST slices revealed that NOR3 induced depolarization of hyperpolarization-activated cation current (Ih)-positive vBNST neurons, which was blocked by the NO scavenger. These results suggest that activation of glutamatergic transmission and subsequent nNOS-derived NO production within the vBNST mediate the negative affective component of pain and that NO-evoked excitation of Ih-positive vBNST neurons may be among the cellular mechanisms underlying pain-induced aversion.

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience. We demonstrated the crucial role of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) in the negative affective component of somatic and visceral pain induced by intraplantar formalin and intraperitoneal acetic acid injections, respectively, in rats. Recently, we reported the involvement of enhanced noradrenergic transmission via β-adrenoceptors within the ventral BNST (vBNST) in formalin-induced aversion. Here, we examined the role of intra-vBNST noradrenergic transmission in the negative affective component of visceral pain induced by intraperitoneal acetic acid injection. In vivo microdialysis showed that extracellular noradrenaline levels within the vBNST significantly increased after intraperitoneal acetic acid injection. Using a conditioned place aversion (CPA) test, we found that intra-vBNST injection of timolol, a β-adrenoceptor antagonist, dose-dependently attenuated the acetic acid-induced CPA without reducing nociceptive behaviors. These results suggest that enhanced noradrenergic transmission via β-adrenoceptors within the vBNST plays a pivotal role in the negative affective, but not sensory, component of visceral pain.