ABSTRACT
Aim To investigate the effects of astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on depressive behaviors, hippocampal damage and Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway in rats. Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, depression group, APS low dose group and APS high dose group. Rats (except the control group) underwent chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) for 28 days. The depressive behaviors were assessed by tail suspension test, forced swim test and sucrose preference test. The histopathological changes of the hippocampus were valuated by HE staining. Levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) protein and Nrf2 mRNA were measured. The hippocampal levels of oxidative stress were evaluated. Results Compared with the control group, the depression group showed significant depressive behaviors and hippocampal damage. The depression group had higher levels of Nrf2 and MDA, but lower levels of HO-1, SOD, CAT and GSH-Px than the control group. However, APS does-dependently attenuated the hippocampal damage and depressive behaviors, increased hippocampal levels of Nrf2, HO-1, SOD, CAT and GSH-Px, but decreased hippocampal levels of MDA in rats. Conclusions APS can attenuate CUMS-induced hippocampal damage and depressive behaviors in rats, and the effects may be associated with the activation of Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway.
ABSTRACT
Aim To investigate the effects of astragalus polysaccharide ( APS ) on depressive behaviors and hippocampal NF-κB signaling in rats with depression. Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into con-trol group, depressive group, APS-low (200 mg·kg-1 ·d-1 ) group and APS-high ( 400 mg · kg-1 · d-1 ) group. Depressive behaviors were induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress ( CUMS) in rats. After trea-ted with APS, depressive behaviors were valuated by open field test, forced swim test and sucrose preference test. Levels of NF-κB p65, phosphorylated NF-κB p65 ( p-NF-κB p65 ) , phosphorylated IκBα ( p-IκBα) , NF-κB p65 DNA binding activity, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were measured to assess the activity of NF-κB sig-naling pathways. Results Compared to control group, rats in depressive group had less sucrose intake in su-crose preference and longer immobility time in forced swim test, as well as increased hippocampal NF-κB signaling activity. However, APS treatment dose-de-pendently alleviated depressive-like behaviors and in-hibited the activation of NF-κB signaling induced by UCMS. Conclusion The antidepressant effects of APS might be associated with the inhibition of hipp-ocampal NF-κB signaling pathway.
ABSTRACT
Aim To investigate the effects of astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on renal TGF-β1/Smads signa-ling pathway in rats with diabetes mellitus(DM). Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into nor-mal group,DM group,APS low dose (APS-low) group and APS high dose (APS-high) group. Rats in APS-low group and APS-high group respectively received 200 and 400 mg·kg-1·d-1APS for 8 weeks. Con-centrations of fasting blood-glucose(FBG),blood urea nitrogen and creatinine,as well as urinary kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and osteopontin (OPN) were measured. Levels of TGF-β1,Smad2,phosphorylated Smad2 (p-Smad2),Smad3,phosphorylated Smad3 (p-Smad3),Smad7,matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2,MMP-9,tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2 were investigated. Results Compared to control group,DM group had higher levels of FBG,blood urea nitrogen,creatinine KIM-1,OPN, TGF-β1,Smad2,p-Smad2,Smad3,p-Smad3,TIMP-1 and TIMP-2,but lower levels of Smad7,MMP-2 and MMP-9. APS significantly decreased the levels of FBG,blood urea nitrogen,creatinine KIM-1 and OPN, as well as inhibited the activity of TGF-β1/Smads sig-naling pathway. Conclusion The renoprotective effects of APS might be associated with the inhibition of TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway.