Quantifying natural recovery of dopamine deficits induced by chronic stress

Chronic stress can impair dopamine production, contributing to the development of neurodegenerative and psychiatric conditions, including depression. While interventions such as exercise and diet have shown promise in reversing these effects, the body’s natural ability to recover from stress-induced dopamine deficits remains unclear. We aimed to quantify the natural reversibility of dopamine deficits induced by chronic stress in Caenorhabditis elegans by measuring changes in the expression of cat-2 and sod-2, known to be associated with dopamine biosynthesis and oxidative stress responses, respectively. C. elegans were exposed to starvation or hydrocortisone to simulate chronic stress and then allowed to recover naturally. Gene expression levels were measured using RT-qPCR at pre-stress, stress, and post-stress timepoints. We found that cat-2 expression was only detectable in select groups, with markedly higher expression following mild stress compared to recovery. sod-2 expression was highly reversible in starved C. elegans, moderately reversible at lower hydrocortisone concentrations, and not reversible at higher doses. These findings suggest that the natural reversibility of dopamine-related gene expression is dependent on the type and severity of stressor. Understanding these mechanisms may help establish biological baselines for recovery and improve treatment strategies for individuals with stress-related dopamine dysfunction. Ultimately, our research contributes to a better understanding of how natural recovery processes could support therapeutic approaches for depression and related disorders.