Electroconvulsive seizures influence dendritic spine morphology and BDNF expression in a neuroendocrine model of depression

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a rapid and effective treatment for major depressive disorder. Chronic stress-induced depression causes dendrite atrophy and deficiencies in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which are reversed by anti-depressant drugs. Electroconvulsive seizures (ECS), an animal model of ECT, robustly increase BDNF expression and stimulate dendritic outgrowth. Objective: The present study aims to understand cellular and molecular plasticity mechanisms contributing to the efficacy of ECS following chronic stress-induced depression. Methods: We quantify Bdnf transcript levels and dendritic spine density and morphology on cortical pyramidal neurons in mice exposed to vehicle or corticosterone and receiving either Sham or ECS treatment. Results: ECS rescues corticosterone-induced defects in spine morphology and elevates Bdnf exon 1 and exon 4-containing transcripts in cortex. Conclusions: Dendritic spine remodeling and induction of activity-induced BDNF in the cortex represent important cellular and molecular plasticity mechanisms underlying the efficacy of ECS for treatment of chronic stress-induced depression.