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Antidepressant-like effects of Xiaochaihutang in a rat model of chronic unpredictable mild stress.
- Source :
-
Journal of Ethnopharmacology . Feb2014, Vol. 152 Issue 1, p217-226. 10p. - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Xiaochaihutang (XCHT) has been used in China for thousands of years to treat “Shaoyang syndrome”, which involves depressive-like symptoms. However, few studies have investigated its antidepressant effects and pharmacological mechanism of action. The present study was designed to confirm the antidepressant effect of XCHT using a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model and explore its potential mechanism of action by investigating the monoamine neurotransmitters (dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine) and neurotrophins (BDNF and NGF). Materials and methods: The CUMS model was established in rats, and the antidepressant effect of XCHT (0.6, 1.7 and 5mg/kg/day, given by gastric gavage for 4 weeks) was investigated using the open field test (OFT), food consumption test and sucrose preference test. The concentrations of 5-HT and DA in the hippocampus were measured by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). The expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and their receptors tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) and tyrosine receptor kinase A (TrkA) in the hippocampus were measured by immunohistochemical staining analysis. Results: CUMS caused a significant decrease in OFT, food consumption and sucrose preference in rats, and these depression-like behaviors were significantly improved by XCHT (1.7 and 5g/kg/day). Moreover, XCHT significantly increased the concentrations of 5-HT (0.6 and 5g/kg/day) and DA (5g/kg/day), and improved the BDNF, NGF, TrkB and TrkA expressions in the hippocampus (1.7 and 5g/kg/day), which was reduced in CUMS rats. Conclusion: The results obtained suggested that XCHT may have therapeutic actions on depression-like behavior induced by CUMS in rats possibly mediated by increasing the monoamine neurotransmitter concentration and neurotrophin expression in the hippocampus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Subjects :
- *ENZYME analysis
*ALTERNATIVE medicine
*ANIMAL behavior
*ANIMAL experimentation
*ANTIDEPRESSANTS
*BIOPHYSICS
*SUGAR content of food
*FOOD preferences
*HIGH performance liquid chromatography
*HIPPOCAMPUS (Brain)
*IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY
*INGESTION
*RESEARCH methodology
*MEDICINAL plants
*BOTANIC medicine
*CHINESE medicine
*NERVE growth factor
*NEUROTRANSMITTERS
*RATS
*STAINS & staining (Microscopy)
*STATISTICAL significance
*DESCRIPTIVE statistics
*PHARMACODYNAMICS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 03788741
- Volume :
- 152
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 94406914
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.01.006