The role of BDNF, CREB, DAT, GFAP and Arc in manic- and OCD-like behavioral phenotypes in both sexes of rats exposed to REM sleep deprivation
6 affiliations
- 1Medicinal Plants Research Center, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, P.O. Box: 1419815477, Karaj, Iran
- 2Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
- 3Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
- 4Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, TeMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
- 5Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, TeMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
- 6Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Rapid-eye movement sleep deprivation (REM SD) has controversial effects on behavioral functions and cognitive abilities. Recent evidence has shown that REM SD in rats may lead to manic- and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)-like behaviors. The present study aimed to assess the effect of REM SD in both sexes of rats on locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, stereotyped behaviors, and OCD-like behavior. The possible role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cAMP response element-binding (CREB), dopamine transporter (DAT), glia fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) was also assessed using real-time PCR. REM SD was done for 14 days (6 h/d). Locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, grooming, and sniffing were measured using the open field test, and the marble burying test measured repetitive/compulsive-like responses. The results showed REM SD in both sexes led to hyperlocomotion, decreased anxiety, and increased OCD-like and stereotyped behaviors, with more effects in females except anxiety-like behavior. Also, the expression level of BDNF, CREB, DAT, and Arc was decreased and GFAP was increased in the hippocampus of both sexes of REM SD rats, with more effects in females except CREB. In conclusion, and for the first time, the present study showed the possible role of Arc, DAT, and GFAP in the induction of OCD- and manic-like behaviors and stereotyped behaviors in both sexes of rats. We also observed reduced BDNF and CREB expression in REM SD animals, suggesting a potential association between these molecular alterations and the behavioral changes induced by REM SD. Interventions targeting these molecular pathways could offer promising therapeutic strategies for REM SD-induced mood disorders.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12993-026-00359-5.
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BibTeX
@article{vaseghi2026role,
title = {{The role of BDNF, CREB, DAT, GFAP and Arc in manic- and OCD-like behavioral phenotypes in both sexes of rats exposed to REM sleep deprivation}},
author = {Salar Vaseghi and Shilan Baghaeikia and Tabassom Keyvani and Golbahar Lotfi and Marzieh Jalalian-Javadpour and Mahshid Ebrahimnejad},
journal = {Behavioral and Brain Functions : BBF},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12993-026-00359-5},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12993-026-00359-5},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The role of BDNF, CREB, DAT, GFAP and Arc in manic- and OCD-like behavioral phenotypes in both sexes of rats exposed to REM sleep deprivation
AU - Salar Vaseghi
AU - Shilan Baghaeikia
AU - Tabassom Keyvani
AU - Golbahar Lotfi
AU - Marzieh Jalalian-Javadpour
AU - Mahshid Ebrahimnejad
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/31
JO - Behavioral and Brain Functions : BBF
DO - 10.1186/s12993-026-00359-5
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12993-026-00359-5
AB - Rapid-eye movement sleep deprivation (REM SD) has controversial effects on behavioral functions and cognitive abilities. Recent evidence has shown that REM SD in rats may lead to manic- and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)-like behaviors. The present study aimed to assess the effect of REM SD in both sexes of rats on locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, stereotyped behaviors, and OCD-like behavior. The possible role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cAMP response element-binding (CREB), dopamine transporter (DAT), glia fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) was also assessed using real-time PCR. REM SD was done for 14 days (6 h/d). Locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, grooming, and sniffing were measured using the open field test, and the marble burying test measured repetitive/compulsive-like responses. The results showed REM SD in both sexes led to hyperlocomotion, decreased anxiety, and increased OCD-like and stereotyped behaviors, with more effects in females except anxiety-like behavior. Also, the expression level of BDNF, CREB, DAT, and Arc was decreased and GFAP was increased in the hippocampus of both sexes of REM SD rats, with more effects in females except CREB. In conclusion, and for the first time, the present study showed the possible role of Arc, DAT, and GFAP in the induction of OCD- and manic-like behaviors and stereotyped behaviors in both sexes of rats. We also observed reduced BDNF and CREB expression in REM SD animals, suggesting a potential association between these molecular alterations and the behavioral changes induced by REM SD. Interventions targeting these molecular pathways could offer promising therapeutic strategies for REM SD-induced mood disorders. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12993-026-00359-5.
SN - 1744-9081
ER -