Caffeic acid attenuates the decrease in cortical BDNF mRNA expression induced by exposure to forced swimming stress in mice.

We previously reported that caffeic acid produces antidepressive-like effects in the forced swimming test in mice, an animal model of depression. Increased evidence suggests that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophin family that has high affinity for the tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB), plays an important role in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression. The present study examined whether caffeic acid affects the expression levels of BDNF and TrkB mRNA in brain regions of mice subjected to a forced swimming test. Caffeic acid (4 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced the duration of immobility of mice in the forced swimming test. The levels of BDNF mRNA in the frontal cortex as well as TrkB mRNA in the amygdala were significantly decreased after the forced swimming test, and the former reduction was significantly inhibited by caffeic acid (4 mg/kg, i.p.). Caffeic acid (4 mg/kg, i.p.) did not modify the levels of BDNF and TrkB mRNA in brain regions of naive mice. These results suggest that caffeic acid can attenuate the down-regulation of BDNF transcription that results from stressful conditions.