title: Antidepressant-like effects of Chaihu-Shugan-San via SAPK/JNK signal transduction in rat models of depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chaihu-Shugan-San (CHSGS), a traditional Chinese medicinal herbal formula, registered in Jingyue Quanshu, has been indicated that oral administration of the extract from it can remit depressive disorder. C-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK/SAPK) signal transduction plays a key role in the apoptosis of nerve cells, be reported closely correlated with depression. This study was designed to investigate CHSGS antidepressant-like effects in rat models of depression and probe its possible mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  The classical experimental depression model chronic mild unpredictable stress (CMUS) was used to evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of CHSGS. The extracts were administered orally for 14 days, while the parallel positive control was given at the same time using fluoxetine hydrochloride. The expressions of JNK in the hippocampus were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitation PCR and Western blot assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intragastric administration of CHSGS for 14 days caused a significant improvement of weight and locomotor activity in the open-field test. In addition, CHSGS treatment inhibited the expressions of JNK in the hippocampus tissue in CMUS rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CHSGS could obviously improve the depressive state of the model rats and its mechanism may be correlated with regulating the expressions of JNK in the hippocampus.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Gan Organ of SATCM, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, 410008 Changsha, PR China.
authors.forename: Yun-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Gan Organ of SATCM, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, 410008 Changsha, PR China.
authors.forename: Chun-Hu
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Gan Organ of SATCM, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, 410008 Changsha, PR China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Gan Organ of SATCM, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, 410008 Changsha, PR China.
authors.forename: Su-E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Gan Organ of SATCM, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, 410008 Changsha, PR China.
authors.forename: Sui-Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Gan Organ of SATCM, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, 410008 Changsha, PR China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Gan Organ of SATCM, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, 410008 Changsha, PR China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Gan Organ of SATCM, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, 410008 Changsha, PR China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Gan Organ of SATCM, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, 410008 Changsha, PR China.
authors.forename: Tian-Li
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Cheng
keywords: Antidepressant; C-Jun amino-terminal kinase; Chaihu-Shugan-San; fluoxetine; open field test; signal transduction