Energy metabolism disorder and functional magnetic resonance imaging of the medial prefrontal cortex in mice with chronic unpredictable mild stress

To analyze spontaneous activities and energy metabolism in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of mice with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and explore the correlation of these changes with the mTORC1 signaling pathway. Normal C57Bl/6 mice were randomly divided into control group ( =16) and depression model group ( = 16), and the mice in the latter group were subjected to 8 weeks of modeling with CUMS. Behavioral tests including open field test, sucrose consumption test, tail suspension test and forced swimming test were performed, and the changes in prefrontal gray matter volume and the amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) in the mice were detected with functional magnetic resonance imaging. The CUMS mice were then randomized into two groups for treatment with ketamine ( =8) or saline ( =8). The mPFC tissues of the mice were collected for detecting the phosphorylation levels of mTORC1-related proteins with Western blotting and ATP level and NADP /NADPH ratio with ELISA in the 3 groups. Comp