title: Peony glycosides reverse the effects of corticosterone on behavior and brain BDNF expression in rats.
abstract: Repeated injections of corticosterone (CORT) induce the dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, resulting in depressive-like behavior. This study aimed to examine the antidepressant-like effect and the possible mechanisms of total glycosides of peony (TGP) in the CORT-induced depression model in rats. The results showed that the 3-week CORT injections induced the significant increase in serum CORT levels in rats. Repeated CORT injections also caused depression-like behavior in rats, as indicated by the significant decrease in sucrose consumption and increase in immobility time in the forced swim test. Moreover, it was found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex were significantly decreased in CORT-treated rats. Treatment of the rats with TGP significantly suppressed the depression-like behavior and increased brain BDNF levels in CORT-treated rats. The results suggest that TGP produces an antidepressant-like effect in CORT-treated rats, which is possibly mediated by increasing BDNF expression in the hippocampus and frontal cortex.
authors: School of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong.
authors: Qing-Qiu
authors: QQ
authors: Mao
authors: Zhen
authors: Z
authors: Huang
authors: Siu-Po
authors: SP
authors: Ip
authors: Yan-Fang
authors: YF
authors: Xian
authors: Chun-Tao
authors: CT
authors: Che
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000494:pharmacology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects; D006027:Glycosides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D046353:Immobility Response, Tonic / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D029596:Paeonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013395:Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D006027:Glycosides; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D005473:Fluoxetine; D013395:Sucrose; D003345:Corticosterone