Neuropeptides are important, multifunctional regulatory factors of the nervous system, being considered as a novel, atypical sites of antidepressants action. It has already been proven that some of them, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), are able to affect peptidergic pathways in various brain regions. Despite these reports, there is so far no reports regarding the effect of treatment with SSRIs on brain proopiomelanocortin (POMC), kisspeptin, Kiss1R and MCHR1 gene expression. In the current study we examined POMC, kisspeptin, Kiss1R and MCHR1 mRNA expression in the selected brain structures (hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, striatum, cerebellum and brainstem) of rats chronically treated with a 10 mg/kg dose of escitalopram using quantitative Real-Time PCR. Long-term treatment with escitalopram led to the upregulation of MCHR1 expression in the rat amygdala. Kisspeptin mRNA level was also increased in the amygdala, but Kiss1R mRNA expressions were elevated in the hippocampus, hypothalamus and cerebellum. POMC mRNA expressions were in turn decreased in the hippocampus, amygdala, cerebellum and brainstem. These results may support the hypothesis that these neuropeptides may be involved in the site-dependent actions of SSRI antidepressants. This is the first report of the effects of escitalopram on POMC, kisspeptin, Kiss1R and MCHR1 in animal brain. Our findings shed a new light on the pharmacology of SSRIs and may contribute to a better understanding of the alternative, neuropeptide-dependent modes of antidepressant action.

神经肽是神经系统的重要，多功能调节因子，被认为是抗抑郁药作用的一种新型，非典型部位。已经证明它们中的一些，例如选择性5-羟色胺再摄取抑制剂（SSRI），能够影响大脑各个区域的肽能途径。尽管有这些报道，但迄今尚无关于用SSRI治疗脑部原皮黑素皮质激素（POMC），kisseptin，Kiss1R和MCHR1基因表达的影响的报道。在当前的研究中，我们使用定量Real-Real-时间PCR。依西酞普兰的长期治疗导致大鼠杏仁核MCHR1表达上调。杏仁核中Kisspeptin mRNA水平也升高，但海马，下丘脑和小脑中Kiss1R mRNA表达升高。POMC mRNA表达反过来在海马，杏仁核，小脑和脑干中降低。这些结果可能支持以下假设：这些神经肽可能参与SSRI抗抑郁药的位点依赖性作用。这是艾司西酞普兰对动物大脑中的POMC，kipseptin，Kiss1R和MCHR1影响的第一个报道。我们的发现为SSRIs的药理学提供了新的思路，并可能有助于更好地了解抗抑郁作用的替代性神经肽依赖性模式。杏仁核中Kisspeptin mRNA水平也升高，但是海马，下丘脑和小脑中Kiss1R mRNA表达升高。POMC mRNA表达反过来在海马，杏仁核，小脑和脑干中降低。这些结果可能支持以下假设：这些神经肽可能参与SSRI抗抑郁药的部位依赖性作用。这是艾司西酞普兰对动物大脑中的POMC，kipseptin，Kiss1R和MCHR1影响的第一个报道。我们的发现为SSRIs的药理学提供了新的思路，并可能有助于更好地了解抗抑郁作用的替代性神经肽依赖性模式。杏仁核中Kisspeptin mRNA水平也升高，但是海马，下丘脑和小脑中Kiss1R mRNA表达升高。POMC mRNA表达反过来在海马，杏仁核，小脑和脑干中降低。这些结果可能支持以下假设：这些神经肽可能参与SSRI抗抑郁药的部位依赖性作用。这是艾司西酞普兰对动物大脑中的POMC，kipseptin，Kiss1R和MCHR1影响的第一个报道。我们的发现为SSRIs的药理学提供了新的思路，并可能有助于更好地了解抗抑郁作用的替代性神经肽依赖性模式。小脑和脑干。这些结果可能支持以下假设：这些神经肽可能参与SSRI抗抑郁药的部位依赖性作用。这是艾司西酞普兰对动物大脑中的POMC，kipseptin，Kiss1R和MCHR1影响的第一个报道。我们的发现为SSRIs的药理学提供了新的思路，并可能有助于更好地了解抗抑郁作用的替代性神经肽依赖性模式。小脑和脑干。这些结果可能支持以下假设：这些神经肽可能参与SSRI抗抑郁药的位点依赖性作用。这是艾司西酞普兰对动物大脑中的POMC，kipseptin，Kiss1R和MCHR1影响的第一个报道。我们的发现为SSRIs的药理学提供了新的思路，并可能有助于更好地了解抗抑郁作用的替代性神经肽依赖性模式。