title: Effects of the Chinese traditional prescription Xiaoyaosan decoction on chronic immobilization stress-induced changes in behavior and brain BDNF, TrkB, and NT-3 in rats.
abstract: The Xiaoyaosan (XYS) decoction, a Chinese traditional prescription containing eight commonly used herbs, has been used for treatment of mental disorders such as depression for centuries in China. However, the mechanism underlying its antidepressant activity is poorly understood. In rats with chronic immobilization stress (CIS), we examined the effects of the XYS decoction on tail suspension behavior and the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyroxine hydroxylase (TrkB), and neurotrophin 3 (NT-3) in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. Rats subjected to CIS exhibited decreases in weight-gain, food intake, and ambulation in the open field test; they also showed an increase in immobility in the tail suspension test. These were all attenuated by the XYS decoction. Biochemically, the XYS decoction also reversed CIS-induced decreases in BDNF and increases in TrkB and NT-3 in the frontal cortex and the hippocampal CA(1) subregion. The behavioral effects of the XYS were correlated to the biochemical actions. These results suggest that the XYS decoction produces an antidepressant-like effect, which appears to be involved by BDNF in the brain.
authors.affiliation: School of Pre-clinical Medicine, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 11 Beisanhuan Donglu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, P. R. China. chenjx@bjucmp.edu.cn
authors.forename: Jia-Xu
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jian-Xing
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001069:Appetite Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020813:Receptor, trkB / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; C532268:xiaoyaosan; D020813:Receptor, trkB