Preventive Effects of Ginseng Total Saponins on Chronic Corticosterone‐Induced Impairment in Astrocyte Structural Plasticity and Hippocampal Atrophy

Abstract

To further explore the underlying antidepressant mechanism of ginseng total saponins (GTS), this study observed the effects on hippocampal astrocyte structural plasticity and hippocampal volume in the corticosterone-induced mouse depression model. Corticosterone (20 mg/kg/day) was administered subcutaneously for 5 weeks, and GTS (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg/day; namely GTSL, GTSM, and GTSH) or fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/day) were given intragastrically during the last 3 weeks. On day 33 and day 34, depression-like behavior was observed via a forced swimming test and a tail suspension test, respectively. At 6 h after the last dose of corticosterone (day 35), all mice were sacrificed followed by serum corticosterone assays, stereological analysis of hippocampal glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive (GFAP ) astroctyes and hippocampal volume, and hippocampal glycogen tests. Results showed that all doses of GTS ameliorated depression-like behavior and the decrease in hippocampal glycogen without normalizing hypercortisolism. Moreover, GTSH and GTSM reversed the corticosterone-induced reduction in the total number of hippocampal GFAP astrocytes and hippocampal volume. Additionally, GTSH alleviated the diminished protrusion length and somal volume of GFAP astrocytes induced by corticosterone. These findings imply that the effects of GTS on corticosterone-induced depression-like behavior may be mediated partly through the protection to hippocampal astrocyte structural plasticity. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Progesterone and fluoxetine treatments of postpartum depressive‐like behavior in rat model

“…SPT results ( Figure 2) suggests as well that Controls may have experienced a significant increase from start to week 2 in absence of signs of anhedonia, and OFT results ( Figure 4D) demonstrates a large decrease in activity indexes of Controls over time. Antidepressants have reversed these structural changes observed in animal models of depression (Chen et al, 2017;Czeh et al, 2006). However, the environment and the time of starting behavior tests can affect the behavioral index of every mouse.…”

“…We believe cytoskeletal components might be affected in PPD subjects, which in turn can lead to hippocampal structural alterations and functional impairment. Antidepressants have reversed these structural changes observed in animal models of depression (Chen et al, 2017;Czeh et al, 2006). Fluoxetine has been evidenced to increase hippocampal neurogenesis and dendritic spine density in the pyramidal neurons (Malberg et al, 2000;Guirado et al, 2012).…”

Mechanisms of Panax ginseng action as an antidepressant

“…GTS was able to reverse the decrease of astrocyte number, structural changes and hippocampal atrophy in CORT-induced depressed mice. 71 Many studies have shown that systemic LPS administration immediately activates microglia in the brain, and this ef- also decreased the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in brain tissue after LPS injection. 75 Moreover, Rb1 attenuates damage to cerebral cortex neurons by downregulation of nitric oxide, superoxide and TNF-α expression in hypoxia-activated microglia.…”

Medicinal Herbs and Phytochemicals Used in the Treatment of Depression: A Review

“…It was one the best medicine in past years, Where in recent days, several pieces of research have confirmed that ginseng has shown antidepressant-like activity with its component ginsenosides in experimental animal models. There are many causative factors for the induction of the depression like Glial cells aggregation along with blocking the neuronal cells, but the recent studies have shown that glial cells have astrocytes which show an major role in the pathogenesis of depression [48]. Where ginseng effectively regulates the response in the immune system and it has also helped in maintaining the homeostasis.…”

“…It has been shown that the resveratrol has been occupied the dominant stream in acting as a neuroprotective agent with the huge ability to escalate the neurogenesis, with many other disorders in the brain. Resveratrol has also proven to show the action as the best sleep inducer with anti-aging property [48,84]. In addition to the system, monoaminergic and molecular markers are related to depression which has a complication with both hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and HPA axis [79,80].…”