title: [Effect of Shuganjieyu capsules on neuronal apoptosis in hippocampal CA3 area and the expression of caspase-3 in the brain of rat depression model].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of "Shuganjieyu" (SGJY) capsules on neuronal apoptosis in hippocampal CA3 area and the expression of caspase-3 in the brain of rat depression model, and to investigate its pharmacological mechanisms in depression treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: a control, a model, a SGJY and a fluoxetine group. The rat depression model was established under chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and separate feeding. The behaviors were measured by open-field test, sucrose consumption and forced swimming test. We observed the neuronal morphology structure and neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampal CA3 area. We detected the rat caspase-3 expression level of medial prefrontal cortex ( mPFC) and hippocampal CA3 area by Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 21-day stress, compared with the model group, spontaneous activity and sucrose consumption and preference percentage of the rats in the SGJY group significantly increased, while the immobility time in forced swimming test, the number of apoptotic cells and the protein levels of caspase-3 significantly reduced (P<0.01 or 0.05). There was no significant difference between the SGJY group and the fluoxetine group (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SGJY capsules can reduce the depression symptoms of CUMS and help to increase hippocampal neuron generation, survival and neogenesis, reduce the protein levels of caspase-3, and reverse neurocyte apoptosis in the rat depression model with the same efficacy as fluoxetine.
authors.affiliation: Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Jinhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qingyong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jingping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D056654:CA3 Region, Hippocampal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D002214:Capsules; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3