Document Type : Research Articles
Authors
1 Faculty of Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
2 Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University GC, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Abstract
Stress is one of the most prevalent types of mental illnesses. Chrysin is a phytochemical compound with anti-stress effects. However, molecular mechanisms of its anxiolytic effects have not been studied. The present study aimed to investigate the gene expression of hypothalamic phoenixin and nesfatin-1 in a rat model of acute stress treated with chrysin. In the study, twenty male Wistar rats weighing 200 ± 10 g were split up into four groups (n=5). For the third cerebral ventricle injection, cannulation was done in the skull. After one week of recovery, the rats were subjected to two hours of acute restraint stress. The control and stress groups received saline. Also, two stressed groups were given 20 or 40 µg of chrysin via the third cerebral ventricle, respectively. Hypothalamic samples were removed. Then, RNA was extracted. In the next step, cDNA was synthesized. Finally, relative gene expression was assessed by a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results showed that, the mRNA levels of nesfatin-1 significant increase in the stressed rats in comparison to the control group. The mRNA level of nesfatin-1 in the chrysin-treated group was significantly reduced compared to the stressed group. Furthermore, the stressed rats showed a significant decrease in mRNA levels of phoenixin in comparison to the control group. There was no significantly increase in the mRNA level of phoenixin between the stressed group and the group receiving chrysin. In conclusion, down- regulation of the hypothalamic nesfatin may be involved in the mediating anti-anxiety effects of chrysin.
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