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Neurocritical Care
Published in: Neurocritical Care 1/2017

01-02-2017 | Translational Research

Simvastatin Therapy in the Acute Stage of Traumatic Brain Injury Attenuates Brain Trauma-Induced Depression-Like Behavior in Rats by Reducing Neuroinflammation in the Hippocampus

Authors: Sher-Wei Lim, Yow-Ling Shiue, Jen-Chieh Liao, Hsiao-Yue Wee, Che-Chuan Wang, Chung-Ching Chio, Chin-Hung Chang, Chiao-Ya Hu, Jinn-Rung Kuo

Published in: Neurocritical Care | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

The antidepressant-like effects of simvastatin on traumatic brain injury (TBI) remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of simvastatin and determine whether simvastatin attenuates TBI-induced depression-like behavior and, more specifically, acts as an antineuroinflammatory.

Methods

Anesthetized male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into five groups: sham-operated controls, TBI controls, and TBI treatment with simvastatin 4, 10, or 20 mg/kg. Simvastatin was intraperitoneally injected 0, 24, and 48 h after TBI. The motor function was measured using an inclined plane, and depression-like behavior was evaluated using forced swimming tests. Neuronal apoptosis (markers: NeuN, TUNEL, caspase-3), microglia (marker: OX42) and astrocyte (marker: GFAP) activation, and TNF-α expression in the microglia and astrocytes of the hippocampal CA3 area were investigated using immunofluorescence assay. All parameters were measured on the 4th, 8th, and 15th day, or only on the 15th day after TBI.

Results

TBI-induced depression-like behavior, which increased duration of immobility, was significantly attenuated by 20 mg simvastatin therapy on day 15 after TBI. TBI-induced neuronal apoptosis, microglia and astrocyte activation, and TNF-α expression in the microglia and astrocytes of the CA3 area of the hippocampus were significantly reduced by simvastatin treatment, particularly when 20 mg/kg was administered for 3 days.

Conclusions

Intraperitoneal injection of simvastatin attenuated TBI in rats during the acute stage by reducing neuronal apoptosis, microglia, and TNF-α expression, thereby resulting in a reduction of depressive-like behavior. Our results suggest that simvastatin may be a promising treatment for TBI-induced depression-like behavior.
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Metadata
Title
Simvastatin Therapy in the Acute Stage of Traumatic Brain Injury Attenuates Brain Trauma-Induced Depression-Like Behavior in Rats by Reducing Neuroinflammation in the Hippocampus
Authors
Sher-Wei Lim
Yow-Ling Shiue
Jen-Chieh Liao
Hsiao-Yue Wee
Che-Chuan Wang
Chung-Ching Chio
Chin-Hung Chang
Chiao-Ya Hu
Jinn-Rung Kuo
Publication date
01-02-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Neurocritical Care / Issue 1/2017
Print ISSN: 1541-6933
Electronic ISSN: 1556-0961
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-016-0290-6

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