Danshen-Honghua Ameliorates Stress-Induced Menopausal Depression in Rats

Abstract

Objective Previously, we have shown that Danshen-Honghua (DSHH) for cognitive deficits after ischemia induced impairments of the hippocampus. Here, we investigate the effects of DSHH on stress-induced depression in menopausal rats. Methods A rat model with menopausal depression was established with bilateral ovariectomies in female SD rats followed by chronic mild stress treatment for 21 days. 40 rats were randomly divided into the sham surgery group (sham surgery and no stress treatment), surgery group (surgery with no stress treatment), surgery/stress group (surgery and stress treatment), fluoxetine group (2.4 mg·kg−1, with surgery and stress treatment), and DSHH group (35 g·kg−1, with surgery and stress treatment). The rats in the last two groups were treated with stresses together with intragastric drug administration for three weeks after the surgery. Then open-field locomotor scores and sucrose intake were tested for behavior changes. Also, the levels of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and cortisone were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Serum estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined by radioimmunoassay. Results The results of open-field locomotor scores, sucrose intake in both the fluoxetine group and DSHH group, were significantly higher than those of the surgery/stress group (P < 0.01). Serum LH, FSH, and cortisone levels in both the DSHH group and fluoxetine group were significantly lower than those in the surgery/stress group (P < 0.01). Serum E2 levels in these groups were slightly increased in these medicine groups (P < 0.01). The monoamine levels in the DSHH group were much higher than those in the surgery/stress group (P < 0.01). Conclusion DSHH can ameliorate stress-induced depressed syndromes in the surgery/stressed rats via regulating LH and FSH levels as well as monoamine levels.

Metabolomics changes in brain-gut axis after unpredictable chronic mild stress

“…Our results showed that UCMS significantly decreased body weight and increased the CORT, which is consistent with our previous reports (Fig. 1E, F ) (Gu et al 2018a , b ). These results indicate that UCMS caused depression-like behaviors.…”

“…Group III started from the third week and were given continuous intragastric drug administration for 3 weeks continuously, 3 times a day. Fluoxetine solution was dissolved in 0.9 % saline (Gu et al 2018b ). Rats in group II and group III were exposed to consecutive UCMS for 5 weeks, while rats in group I were exempt.…”

“…After the UCMS procedure, the rats were tested with sucrose preference test (SPT) which was performed on day 35, open field test (OFT) on day 36, and forced swim test (FST) on day 37, as we previously reported (Gu et al 2018a ). All behavior tests were performed between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm by an observer who was blinded to the treatment groups (Gu et al 2018b ). The FST experiments were carried out between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm, in a plastic bucket (50 cm high and 25 cm diameter) containing 30 cm of water at a temperature of around 25 °C.…”

Folic acid ameliorates depression-like behaviour in a rat model of chronic unpredictable mild stress

“…Extensive studies show that monoaminergic neurotransmission involving 5-HT, NE and DA exerts major influence on brain circuits by regulating mood, reactivity to psychological stress, self-control, motivation, drive, and cognitive performance [25]. Studies also showed that the levels of DA and 5-HT decreased in the hypothalamic tissue of patients with depression [26].…”

Altered resting‐state hippocampal functional connectivity in breast cancer survivors with chemotherapy‐induced amenorrhea

“…Higher circulating levels of LH and FSH were attributed to decreased negative feedback on estrogen release. Some studies report that high levels of LH and FSH were associated with depression (Gu et al., 2018; Soares, 2016). According to Freeman (2010), depressive symptoms were significantly associated with greater variability in FSH and estradiol levels.…”