title: Xiao Yao San Improves Depressive-Like Behaviors in Rats with Chronic Immobilization Stress through Modulation of Locus Coeruleus-Norepinephrine System.
abstract: Most research focuses on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, and hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPGA) axis systems of abnormalities of emotions and behaviors induced by stress, while no studies of Chinese herbal medicine such as Xiao Yao San (XYS) on the mechanisms of locus coeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) system have been reported. Therefore, experiments were carried out to observe mechanism of LC-NE system in response to chronic immobilization stress (CIS) and explore the antidepressant effect of XYS. Rat model was established by CIS. LC morphology in rat was conducted. The serum norepinephrine (NE) concentrations and NE biosynthesis such as tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH), and corticotrophin-releasing-factor (CRF) in LC were determined. Results showed that there were no discernible alterations in LC in rats. The serum NE concentrations, positive neurons, mean optical density (MOD), and protein levels of TH, DBH, and CRF in model group were significantly increased compared to the control group. But XYS-treated group displayed a significantly decreased in NE levels and expressions of TH, DBH, and CRF compared to the model group. In conclusion, CIS can activate LC-NE system to release NE and then result in a significant decrease in rats. XYS treatment can effectively improve depressive-like behaviors in rats through inhibition of LC-NE neurons activity.
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China ; School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Xiu-Fang
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shantou City Hospital, Shantou 515000, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Chao
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Xin
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Diao
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Yao
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Xu
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Ping
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Lv