AMPK activation improves depression-like symptoms in olfactory bulbectomized mice by regulating microglia M1/M2 polarization in the hippocampus.

Several studies have reported that the activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the central nervous system is involved in antidepressant-like effects. We recently demonstrated that AMPK activators like 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-d-ribonucleotide (AICAR) and liver hydrolysate containing an AMPK active ingredient can prevent depression-like behaviors in animal models of depression through enhanced cell proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). However, it remains unclear whether microglia are involved in the antidepressant effects of AICAR in olfactory bulbectomized (OBX) mice, which is a useful animal model of depression.

Dietary gangliosides rescue GM3 synthase deficiency outcomes in mice accompanied by neurogenesis in the hippocampus.

Ganglioside GM3 synthase is a key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of gangliosides. GM3 synthase deficiency (GM3SD) causes an absence of GM3 and all downstream biosynthetic derivatives, including all the a-, b-, c-series gangliosides, commonly found in neural tissues. The affected individuals manifest with severe irritability, intractable seizures, hearing loss, blindness, and profound intellectual disability.