Abstract
The reasons for the relationship between depression and chronic liver disease (CLD) are complex and multifactorial. Further research is needed to decipher the etiology and establish an optimal management approach for depression in patients, including the potential role of non-pharmacological treatments. monosodium glutamate (MSG)-treated rats are more likely to develop anxiogenic- and depressive-like behaviors, which could be related to the dysfunction of serotonergic system. In this study, partial hepatectomy (PH) was performed in MSG-treated rats and the histopathological changes were observed in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and liver. The effect of escitalopram, a widely used antidepressant, on neural and liver injury in this model was also examined. The MSG + PH-treated rats displayed decreased distances traveled in total, in center arena, and in the left side of arena in inner open field test (OFT), as compared to saline, saline + PH, and MSG-treated animals. The present study established that PH aggravated anxiety-like depressive behaviors in MSG-treated rats, concordant with damaged Nissl bodies (and neurites), decreased IBA-1 and Sox-2 expression in OFC and neurotransmitter disorder. Escitalopram treatment could alleviate these pathological changes as well as reduce hepatic steatosis and lipid metabolism.
Highlights
In recent years, mental health conditions, especially depression, have been recognized as a complication of chronic liver disease (CLD)
The monosodium glutamate (MSG)-treated rats without partial hepatectomy (PH) traveled a total distance of 1103.14 ± 285.99 cm, 494.83 ± 210.80 cm in the center, and 80.05 ± 89.23 cm on the left, and these distances were significantly shorter than those traveled by saline-treated animals without PH (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), suggesting that MSG treatment induced anxiety-like depressive behaviors of neonatal rats
The animals displayed anxiety-like depressive behaviors after MSG treatment, which was aggravated by PH
Summary
Mental health conditions, especially depression, have been recognized as a complication of chronic liver disease (CLD). The incidence of depression in patients with CLD is higher than that in general population. Such mental disorders may reduce life quality of patients, worsen clinical outcomes, reduce compliance and increase mortality of liver disease treatment (Popovic et al, 2015). 10–20% of hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers become chronically infected, which can lead to fibrosis and even cirrhosis. Given the high prevalence of HBV infection in China and the high relapse rate of viral hepatitis, CLD patients typically experience panic, depression, and anxiety.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
