Xiao Yao San Improves Depressive-Like Behaviors in Rats with Chronic Immobilization Stress Through Modulation of Locus Coeruleus-Norepinephrine System

Overview

Journal Evid Based Complement Alternat Med

Specialty Rehabilitation Medicine

Date 2015 Jan 23

PMID 25610478

Citations 19

Authors

Xiu-Fang Ding

Xiao-Hua Zhao

Yang Tao

Wei-Chao Zhong

Qin Fan

Jian-Xin Diao

Yuan-Liang Liu

Yu-Yao Chen

Jia-Xu Chen

Zhi-Ping Lv

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Most research focuses on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, and hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPGA) axis systems of abnormalities of emotions and behaviors induced by stress, while no studies of Chinese herbal medicine such as Xiao Yao San (XYS) on the mechanisms of locus coeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) system have been reported. Therefore, experiments were carried out to observe mechanism of LC-NE system in response to chronic immobilization stress (CIS) and explore the antidepressant effect of XYS. Rat model was established by CIS. LC morphology in rat was conducted. The serum norepinephrine (NE) concentrations and NE biosynthesis such as tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH), and corticotrophin-releasing-factor (CRF) in LC were determined. Results showed that there were no discernible alterations in LC in rats. The serum NE concentrations, positive neurons, mean optical density (MOD), and protein levels of TH, DBH, and CRF in model group were significantly increased compared to the control group. But XYS-treated group displayed a significantly decreased in NE levels and expressions of TH, DBH, and CRF compared to the model group. In conclusion, CIS can activate LC-NE system to release NE and then result in a significant decrease in rats. XYS treatment can effectively improve depressive-like behaviors in rats through inhibition of LC-NE neurons activity.

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