Protein and mRNA levels of hippocampal BDNF was significantly lower in learned helplessness (LH) mice.
Chronic imipramine or HDACi treatment could ameliorate depressive behavior and rescue decreased BDNF expression in LH mice.
HDAC5 binding to promoter of Bdnf exon IV was significantly higher in LH than those of LH-R and control mice.
Knockdown of HDAC5 expression prevented LH-induced depressive behaviors.
These results suggest epigenetic regulation of BDNF plays an important role in the LH-induced depression.