Effect of Chaihu-Shugan-San on the mRNA expression of the 5-HT1A receptor and cellular proliferation in the hippocampus of epileptic rats with depression

Abstract

Chaihu-Shugan-San (CHSGS) is a herbal preparation that has been shown to effectively relieve neurologic impairment and reduce depression. However, the efficacy of CHSGS in the treatment of patients with epilepsy with depression is unknown. Therefore, in the present study, adult rats were exposed to chronic mild stress following the establishment of chronic pilocarpine-induced epilepsy. Subsequently, a sucrose consumption test and open-field test (OFT) were performed to assess depression-like behavior. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: Control, model, fluoxetine (1.8 g/kg) and CHSGS (2.7 g/kg) groups. The control and model groups received normal saline. The mRNA expression levels of the 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A (5-HT1A) receptor and the number of 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeled cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus were detected using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analysis, respectively. Treatment administration was conducted by once daily intragastric perfusion for 28 days. The mRNA expression levels of the 5-HT1A receptor, the number of BrdU-labeled cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, the consumption of sucrose, and frequency of vertical and horizontal movement scores in the OFT were enhanced in the fluoxetine and CHSGS groups compared with the model group (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was detected between the fluoxetine and CHSGS groups. These data suggest that CHSGS is able to increase the expression of 5-HT1A receptor mRNA and cellular proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in epileptic rats with depression, and thus effectively improve certain symptoms of depression.

Huanglian‐Jie‐Du‐Tang Extract Ameliorates Depression‐Like Behaviors through BDNF‐TrkB‐CREB Pathway in Rats with Chronic Unpredictable Stress

“…A reduction of sucrose consumption reflects anhedonia, which is one of the core symptoms of depression [ 21 ]. And this change could be restored by antidepressant treatment [ 22 , 23 ]. The same results were found after HJDT treatment in FST.…”

Nine traditional Chinese herbal formulas for the treatment of depression: an ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacology review

“… 44 Nevertheless, CSS upregulates the expression of 5-HT 1A -receptor mRNA and cellular proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in epileptic rats with depression. 45 In addition, CSS inhibits lipid peroxidation, relieves oxidative injury, and regulates antioxidant capacity. Restrained mice treated with CSS have higher SOD and catalase activities in liver, lower MDA values, and higher glutathione levels in the blood compared with untreated restrained mice.…”

Gut Microbiota Is the Key to the Antidepressant Effect of Chaihu-Shu-Gan-San

“…Although the antidepressant mechanism of different responses to CSGS treatment has been extensively investigated, these studies are mainly focused on hippocampal 5-HT receptor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) either at pre-or post-treated CSGS that correlates with therapeutic outcomes [16][17][18]. Herein, we paid more attention to the overall hippocampal metabolism after CGSG and the combined oral administration broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment and then conducted analyses by the UPLC-Q-TOF/MS-based metabolomics approach.…”