Corticosterone reduces brain mitochondrial function and expression of mitofusin, BDNF in depression-like rodents regardless of exercise preconditioning

Both chronic mild stress and an injection of corticosterone induce depression-like states in rodents. To further link mitochondrial dysfunction to the pathophysiology of major depression, here we describe two rat models of a depressive-like state induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) or corticosterone treatment (CORT). It is also a model that allows the simultaneous study of effects of exercise preconditioning on behavioral, electrophysiological, biochemical and molecular markers in the same animal. Exercise preconditioning ahead of CUMS and CORT treatment prevents many behavioral abnormalities resulted from CUMS. The changes in mitochondrial activity in brain and reduced expressions of superoxide dismutase (SOD1, SOD2), mitofusin (Mfn1, Mfn2) as well as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) suggest that both CORT and CUMS may impair mitochondrial function and/or expressions of mitofusion and antioxidant enzymes that, in turn, may increase oxidative stress and reduce energy production in brain with depression-like behaviors. These findings suggest an underlying mechanism by which CORT, as well as CUMS, induces brain mitochondrial dysfunction that is associated with depressive-like states. Remarkably, physical exercise is identified as a helpful and preventive measure to promote mitochondrial function and expressions of mitofusin, BDNF and antioxidant enzymes in brain, so as to protect brain energy metabolism against CUMS, rather than the compound of corticosterone.