Effects of SYJN, a Chinese herbal formula, on chronic unpredictable stress-induced changes in behavior and brain BDNF in rats.
OBJECTIVE
Suyu-Jiaonang (SYJN) is a Chinese herbal formula that contains four herbs: Bupleurum chinense DC, Curcuma aromatica Salisb., Perilla frutescens (Linn.) Britt., and Acorus tatarinowii Schott. Previous studies conducted in our laboratory have revealed an antidepressant-like effect of the formula in various mouse models of behavioral despair. The present study aimed to investigate whether SYJN could produce antidepressant-like effects in chronic unpredictable stress (CUS)-induced depression model in rats and its possible mechanism(s).


METHODS
Rats were subjected to an experimental setting of CUS. The effect of SYJN treatment on CUS-induced depression was examined using behavioral tests including the sucrose consumption and open field tests. The mechanism underlying the antidepressant-like action of SYJN was examined by measuring brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein and mRNA expression in brain tissues of CUS-exposed rats.


RESULTS
Exposure to CUS for 4 weeks caused depression-like behavior in rats, as indicated by significant decreases in sucrose consumption and locomotor activity (assessed in the open field test). In addition, it was found that BDNF protein and mRNA levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex were lower in CUS-treated rats, as compared to controls. Daily intragastric administration of SYJN (1300 or 2600 mg/kg) during the 4-week period of CUS significantly suppressed behavioral changes and attenuated the CUS-induced decrease in BDNF protein and mRNA levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that SYJN alleviates depression induced by CUS. The antidepressant-like activity of SYJN is likely mediated by the increase in BDNF expression in brain tissues.
School of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China.
Qing-Qiu
QQ
Mao
Zhen
Z
Huang
Xiao-Ming
XM
Zhong
Chun-Rong
CR
Feng
Ai-Juan
AJ
Pan
Zhao-Yi
ZY
Li
Siu-Po
SP
Ip
Chun-Tao
CT
Che
D029023:Acorus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029972:Bupleurum / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D030024:Curcuma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D031343:Perilla / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C545641:SYJN herbal formula