Key results
Dissimilar abnormalities were observed in PrL and IL of ICV-STZ depressed rats. In PrL, astrocyte defects were manifested, including reduced GFAP-positive cells, glial transporters and kynurenic acid, and morphological damage. In IL, microglial overactivation was manifested by increased cytokines, Iba1-positive cells and 3-hydroxy-kynurenine, accompanied by morphological alterations. Meanwhile, synaptic plasticity was decreased in both subregions. Microinjection of 1-MT at PrL or IL may improve depressive behaviors by reversing these different abnormalities in PrL and IL, respectively, without influencing anxiety behavior.