Subchronic Arsenic Exposure Induces Anxiety-Like Behaviors in Normal Mice and Enhances Depression-Like Behaviors in the Chemically Induced Mouse Model of Depression

Figure 5

The influence of subchronic arsenic exposure on the expression levels of receptor, PKA, TrkB, and p-Akt in the cerebral PFC. Eight weeks after exposure with 10 mg/L arsenic or drinking water alone in normal mice and in reserpine pretreated mice, the expression levels of receptor and PKA proteins (a) and the expression levels of TrkB, p-Akt (b) in the cerebral PFC of the tested mice were detected by western blot analysis. These protein expression levels were quantitated by microcomputer image device (MCID) image analysis. The lower panel shows the individual protein/β-actin ratios while the β-actin levels were evaluated as a loading control. Each value/error bar is expressed as the mean ± SD of 8 mice., , significant difference compared with normal control group (drinking water alone). , significant difference from the reserpine group (Res).

(a)

(b)