Study On The Antidepressant Activity Of Shuyu Ningxin Decoction

【Objective】The present studywas to investigate the antidepressant activityof ShuyuNingxin decoction used a rat model of depression induced by chronic unpredictablemild stress.【Methods】Except control group,the other group was keeping alone and acceptingthe chronic unpredicted mild stress for21days to induce depression.60SD rats wereequally and randomly assigned to six groups: normal control, model, high-dosetreatments, medium-dose treatments， low-dose treatments with Shuyu Ningxindecoction, and Fluoxetine treatments group (n=10).The administrations groups weretreated with difference dose of Shuyu Ningxin decoction for3weeks, and comparedwith fluoxetine treatments group.In order to understand the potential antidepressantactivity of Shuyu Ningxin decoction, open-field test were be used as animal behaviortest. The level of BDNF and TrkB expression in hippocampus was investigated withimmunohistochemical staining technique.To observe the change of morphology andstructure of hippocampus by the HE staining.The apoptosis of hippocampus wasdetected by TUNEL. The expression level of Bcl-2and Bax in hippocampus wasdetected with immunohistochemical technique.【Results】 1、After modeling，the scores in horizontal and vertical motion of the model groupwas significantly reduced than that in the normal control group (P<0.01), whichshow the depression model was successful. Compared with model group, thehorizontal and vertical scores in the Shuyu Ningxin decoction high-dose treatments，medium-dose treatments and fluoxetine treatments group was significantlyincreased(P<0.05).2、Compared with model group, the level of BDNF and TrkB expression in the ShuyuNingxin decoction high-dose treatments，medium-dose treatments and fluoxetinetreatments group were significantly increased(P<0.05).3、The neuronal cell in CA1and CA3area of hippocampus in model group wasreduced and thin out, less cell nucleus have already deformation and pycnosis via theHE stain.4、Compared with model group, the level of Bax in Shuyu Ningxin decoctionhigh-dose treatments， medium-dose treatments and fluoxetine treatments groupdecreased and Bcl-2increased (P<0.05).5、The apoptosis neurons cells was increased in the model group compared with thecontrol group (P<0.01). Compared with model group, the level of apoptosis cells inShuyu Ningxin decoction high-dose treatments， medium-dose treatments andfluoxetine treatments group were decreased(P<0.01).【Conclusion】The behavioral tasks result indicated that Shuyu Ningxin decoctionhad antidepressant activity effect on chronic stress-induced depression model rats.The potential antidepressant effect may be related to increase the level of BDNF andTrkB, regulate the expression of Bax and Bcl-2to reduce the apoptosis ofhippocampal.