title: Shen-Qi-Jie-Yu-Fang has antidepressant effects in a rodent model of postpartum depression by regulating the immune organs and subsets of T lymphocytes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Shen-Qi-Jie-Yu-Fang (SJ Fang) is a herbal preparation used in traditional Chinese medicine, and is a potentially important new therapeutic agent in postpartum depression (PPD). Previously, we have elucidated the effects of SJ Fang on hormone receptors and monoamine neurotransmitters involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axes in PPD rats. However, the immune-modulating effects of SJ Fang in PPD are still unknown. In this study, we explored the effects of SJ Fang on the immune organs and subsets of T lymphocytes in PPD rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  PPD was created in Sprague-Dawley rats by inducing hormone-simulated pregnancy followed by hormone withdrawal. After hormone withdrawal, the PPD rats were then treated with fluoxetine at 1, 2, and 4 weeks, and the SJ Fang rats were also treated at 1, 2, and 4 weeks. Depressive behavior in the rats was evaluated by the forced swim test, sucrose consumption test, and open field test. The thymus index and spleen index were calculated. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to identify pathological features in the thymus and spleen. CD3, CD4, and CD8 lymphocyte subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both fluoxetine and SJ Fang decreased immobility time, increased sucrose consumption, an horizontal and vertical movement. After 4 weeks of treatment with fluoxetine or SJ Fang, the thymus index and spleen index were significantly higher than at baseline, and the morphology of the thymus and spleen were returning to normal. Two weeks after hormone withdrawal, subsets of T lymphocytes indicated a shift from immune activation to immune suppression, which was reversed by 4 weeks of treatment with fluoxetine or SJ Fang.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suggested that T-cell mediate immune responses which may play a role in the etiopathology of postpartum depression. SJ Fang had an antidepressant effect on the immune system in rats with PPD.
authors.affiliation: Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.affiliation: Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qisheng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ruizhen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jingya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yushan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Center of Scientific Research, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yingqiu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mao
keywords: CD4+; CD8+ ratio; Hematoxylin and eosin staining; immune activation; immune suppression; spleen index; thymus index