Ameliorative effect of Xiaoyao-jieyu-san on post-stroke depression and its potential mechanisms

Abstract

A stroke is a severe life-threatening disease with high fatality and disability rate. This investigation aimed to study the effect of Xiaoyao-jieyu-san (XYJY) on post-stroke depression (PSD) and its potential mechanisms. PSD rats were prepared using middle cerebral artery embolization (MCAO) and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), and divided into six groups (n = 10)-sham; MCAO; MCAO + CUMS (PSD); PSD + fluoxetine (1.84 mg/kg/day, 4 weeks); and PSD + XYJY (450 mg/kg/day and 900 mg/kg/day, 4 weeks). Body weight recording, despair swimming test, and sucrose preference test were performed at 0, 3 and 7 weeks. Histopathological examination and levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in ventral tegmental area-nucleus accumbens (VTA-NAc) tissue were determined at the end of a 7-week period. Real-time polymerase chain reaction PCR was used to determine mRNA expression of 5-HTR and 5-HTR, and Western blot was performed to determine expression of BDNF, corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), and cannabinoid receptors (CBR and CBR) in VTA-NAc tissue. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray mass spectroscopy revealed that the constituents of XYJY are mainly paeoniflorin, imperatorin, naringin, arnesene, 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxyl-diphenylethylene-2-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin, hesperidin, cycloastragenol and atractylenolide III. XYJY (900 mg/kg) increased the body weight of PSD rats, while XYJY (450 mg/kg and 900 mg/kg) shortened the duration of immobility and enhanced the sucrose preference of PSD rats. XYJY (450 mg/kg and 900 mg/kg) increased the levels of 5-HT, NE and BNDF, up-regulated mRNA expression of 5-HTR, down-regulated 5-HTR, and up-regulated BNDF, CBR, and CBR expression in the VTA-NAc tissue of PSD rats but down-regulated CRF. Collectively, the present findings suggested that XYJY has an ameliorative effect on PSD in rats via modulation of BNDF, cannabinoid receptors and CRF in VTA-NAc tissue.

Electroacupuncture Ameliorates Depressive-Like Behaviors in Poststroke Rats via Activating the tPA/BDNF/TrkB Pathway

“…24 In our study, the combination of MCAO and CUMS caused weight loss in rats, which is consistent with previous studies. 25 EA intervention as well as fluoxetine ameliorated the loss of weight. The neurological score is commonly used to quantify the extent of neurological injury.…”

<p>Research Progress on Classical Traditional Chinese Medicine Jieyu Pills in the Treatment of Depression</p>

“…Wang et al suggested that JYP has an ameliorative effect on post-stroke depression in rats via modulating BNDF levels, cannabinoid receptors, and corticotrophin-releasing factor in ventral tegmental area-nucleus accumbens tissue. 93 Paeoniflorin, an active ingredient of PRA, can improve the depression-like behavior caused by chronic stress. This antidepressant effect may occur by regulating the functional activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and increasing BDNF levels in the brain.…”

Efficacy and Safety of Xiaoyao Recipe in the Treatment of Poststroke Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Several randomized controlled studies have shown that XYR alone or in combination with antidepressants can improve PSD symptoms [ 14 , 15 ]. Because few large-sample randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using XYR have been conducted on the PSD population, a reliable evidence-based basis regarding the use of XYR in treating PSD is still lacking.…”