Objective      To observe the correlation between emotional changes and neurotransmitters in cuprizone (CPZ)-induced demyelination mice.       Methods      Thirty-six C57BL/6 mice were divided into 3 groups: the normal control group which was given normal diet

the chronic demyelination group which was given 0.2% CPZ mixed diet for 14 weeks

and the remyelination group which was given 0.2% CPZ diet for 12 weeks and normal diet for 2 weeks. The changes of the corpus callosum areas and astrocytes were observed by Lucas fast blue staining

immunofluorescence assay

and transmission electron microscopy. The behavior changes of the mice were detected by body weight

open field test

elevated plus maze and tail suspension test. The concentrations of monoamine neurotransmitters such as epinephrine

norepinephrine (NE)

5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)

dopamine

3

4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid

and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and high-performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD).       Results      The loss of myelin sheath in the corpus callosum areas of the chronic demyelination group and the remyelination group were significant (P0.01)

and the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) of the both groups were increased significantly (P0.01). In open field test

the total distance

distance of central movement

and time of central movement in the demyelination group were reduced significantly (P0.05). In elevated plus maze

the percentage of open arm time (OT%) and the percentage of open arm entries (OE%) of the demyelination group were lower than those of the normal control group (P0.05). In tail suspension test

the tail hanging inactive time was increased significantly in the demyelination group and the remyelination group (P0.05) compared with the normal control group. HPLC-ECD and ELISA results showed that the concentrations of NE and 5-HT in the normal control group and the demyelination group had significant difference (P0.05).       Conclusion      The CPZ-induced demyelination mice have behavior changes such as anxiety and depression

which may be related with the demyelination of brain tissue and the changes of neurotransmitters.