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Objective:To investigate the effect of early intervention with electroacupuncture (EA) on the gut microbiota in a mouse model of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD).Methods:Totally 32 C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to the following 4 groups ( n=8 for each group): Control group, EA group, PTSD group and PTSD+ EA group.After 7 days acclimation, mice in the PTSD group and PTSD+ EA group were subjected to modified single prolonged stress (mSPS). Mice in the EA group and PTSD+ EA group received EA (2/15 Hz, 1 mA, dilatational wave, 30 min/d) on "Baihui" for 7 days. Mice in the Control group and PTSD group received false stimulation (stimulated the same acupiont without electricity) for 7 days. Seven days after the last stimulation, elevated plus maze test and fear conditioning test were conducted to observe the effect of EA on PTSD-like behavior of mice. At the same time, feces of the mice were collected for gut microbiota detection by 16S rRNA sequencing.SPSS 19.0 was used for statistical analysis.One-way ANOVA was used for multiple group comparison and Bonferrani test was done for further pairwise comparision. Results:(1) There were statistically differences in the open arm activity time of the elevated plus maze test and the immobility time in contextual and cued fear conditioning test among the four groups ( F=6.93, 5.26, 14.51, all P<0.01). In the elevated plus maze test, mice in PTSD group ((60.17±15.52) s) showed significant less time in the open arms than mice in Control group((96.37±14.62) s) and PTSD+ EA group ((86.89±15.02) s) (both P<0.05). In the fear conditioning test, mice in PTSD group ((121.99±29.67) s, (130.82±29.11) s) showed significant increased immobility time both in contextual and cued fear conditioning tests than mice in Control group((74.50±26.65) s, (39.50±23.52) s) and PTSD+ EA group ((76.77±22.60) s, (102.17±3.39) s)(both P<0.05). (2) There were no significant differences among the four groups in the alpha diversity of gut microbiota ( F=0.79-2.45, all P>0.05). (3)Correlation analysis showed that 13 gut microbiotas were negatively correlated with the immobility time in contextual fear conditioning test, 2 gut microbiotas were positively correlated with it; 7 gut microbiotas were negatively correlated with the immobility time in cued fear conditioning test, 1 gut microbiota was positively correlated with it; 3 gut microbiotas were positively correlated with time spent in open arms of elevated plus maze test. Conclusion:Early intervention with EA can improve anxiety-fear like behaviors and gut microflora disorder in PTSD model mice.
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Objective:To investigate the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the hippocampal lipidome in a rat model of chronic unpredictable stress(CUS).Methods:Twenty-four SD rats were randomly assigned to the following 3 groups ( n=8 for each group): sham group, CUS group and CUS+ rTMS group. The sham group received only sham stimulation and rats in the CUS and CUS+ rTMS group were subjected to CUS stimulation. Then, rats received 5 Hz rTMS (5 Hz, 1.26 Tesla) or sham rTMS for 7 days. After the last stimulation, all rats underwent sucrose preference test, open filed test and forced swimming test so as to observe the effect of rTMS on depressive behavior. Then, rats were sacrificed, and the levels of lipid composition in hippocampus were determined by high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and analyzed by lipid search software version 4.1 and SIMCA-P 14.1.The software of SPSS 19.0 was used for statistical analysis. Univariate analysis of variance was used for comparison among groups, and Tukey test was used for multiple comparison. Results:(1)There were significant differences in open field test, sugar preference test and forced swimming test among the three groups( F=6.853-7.466, all P<0.05). In the open field experiment, the exploring time and percentage of movement distance in central area of rats in CUS group((50.72±6.38)s, (11.41±1.55)%) was significantly less than that of sham group ((86.06±7.31)s, (18.60±1.21)%) and CUS+ rTMS group((79.87±7.87)s, (16.74±1.27)%)(all P<0.05). The results of sucrose preference test showed that the percentage of sucrose intake of rats in CUS group ((37.63±6.06)%) was significantly lower than that in sham group ((68.30±6.39)%) and CUS+ rTMS group ((62.68±5.50)%)(both P<0.05) . In forced swimming test, the immobility time of rats in CUS group ((137.60±13.36)s) was significantly longer than that of sham group ((80.57±10.36)s)) and CUS+ rTMS group ((86.14±11.49)s) (both P<0.05). (2)The levels of lipid composition in hippocampus were significantly different in the three groups( F=3.826-15.440, all P<0.05). The contents of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) ((20 850±956.56)×10 7, (24 133.33±1 242.04)×10 7), phosphatidylinositol (PI) ((788.78±136.11)×10 7, (953.65±131.26)×10 7), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) ((340.29±35.66)×10 7, (275.32±35.78)×10 7), creatine phosphate (CerP) ((239.65±18.14)×10 7, (293.82±38.28)×10 7), sphingosine (So) ((22.96±4.04)×10 7, (15.36±3.87)×10 7), diglyceride (DG) ((3.35±0.85)×10 7, (4.57±1.02)×10 7) and monoglyceride (MG) ((6.71±0.82)×10 7, (7.94±0.91)×10 7)in hippocampus of rats in CUS group were significantly higher than those of sham group(all P<0.05), while the phosphatidic acid(PA) ((424.52±33.38)×10 7, (509.22±42.09)×10 7) and acyl carnitine(AcCa) ((2.68±0.33)×10 7, (3.39±0.33)×10 7) decreased(both P<0.05). Compared with CUS group, the contents of PE(21 816.67±928.26)×10 7, PI(83.16±91.52)×10 7, LPC(323.59±33.91)×10 7, CerP(236.39±32.02)×10 7, So(23.35±4.46)×10 7, DG(3.16±0.85)×10 7 and MG(7.03±0.26)×10 7 in the hippocampus of CuS+ rTMS group decreased, while the contents of PA(421.55±44.28)×10 7 and ACCA(2.56±0.32)×10 7 in the hippocampus of CUS+ rTMS group increased (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The levels of glycerophospholipids, glyceroglycerides, sphingolipids, fatty acids and other lipids in the hippocampus of CUS model rats are abnormal. And the 5 Hz rTMS intervention can ameliorate the depression like behavior and the disturbances of lipid in hippocampus of CUS model rats.
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OBJECTIVE:To discuss the effect of early usage with Wulingjun powder on the behavior of rats with post-traumat-ic stress disorder(PTSD)and the level of interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and IL-6 in their hippocampi. METHODS:50 SD rats were ran-domized into control group(normal saline),model group(normal saline),positive control group(paroxetine,10 mg/kg)and the groups of low and high-dose(0.4,0.8 g/kg)Wulingjun powder. The rats in all groups except for control group,were exposed to single prolonged stress for the establishment of PTSD models. Corresponding drugs were given ig immediately after such establish-ment,qd,for 7 consecutive days. An open field test(the times of the rats’entering the central area and the percentage of the time the rats spent in exploring the central area within 10 min were recorded)was conducted 7 days after giving drugs;and an elevated plus-maze test(the times of the rats’in opening arms and the percentage of the time the rats spent in opening arms within 5 min were recorded)was carried out 8 days thereafter,to observe the behavior of the rats. Then the rats were sacrificed to determine the level of IL-1β and IL-6 in their hippocampi by ELISA. RESULTS:Compared to the normal group,the behavioral index of the rats in model group was significantly lower,and the level of IL-1β and IL-6 in their hippocampi was significantly higher(P0.05). CONCLU-SIONS:High-dose Wulingjun power can improve the anxiety-like behavior of the rats with PTSD,which may be related to the re-duction in the level of IL-1βand IL-6 in the hippocampus.
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Objective To investigate the effects of gastrodin on neural function and the expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofilament high molecular weight (NFH) in the striatum during cerebral ischemiareperfusion in mice.Methods 36 Kunming mice were randomly divided into sham group,MCAO group and gastrodin (GAS) group.The middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) was established by artery embolization.The mice in sham group were received fake surgery and saline,and the mice in MCAO and GAS group were exposed to MCAO,and received saline and GAS (100 mg/(kg · d)) injection,respectively,immediately after the operation for 7 days.On the 8th day of operation,the neurological severity scores of the mice were observed and the volume ratio of the cerebral infarction was estimated by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the MBP and NF-H in the striatum.Results (1) The mice in MCAO group showed significant neurologic deficient in comparison with sham group,and the neurological severity scores of gastrodin group(3.13±0.64) were significantly higher than that(1.38±0.52) of MCAO group (P＜0.05).(2) Results of TTC staining showed that the infarction volume was obviously larger in the injured cerebral tissue in MCAO group in comparison with sham group,and the volume ratio of the cerebral infarction significantly decreased after the intervention with GAS (P＜0.05).(3) The integral optical density of MBP(272968.14±1215.23) and NF-H(12 142.73±47.16) in MCAO group decreased as compared to that((43 855.23±2434.16),(275 321.00±926.15)) in sham group and GAS group((321 531.2±2376.14),(106 135.73±598.15)) (P＜0.05).Conclusion GAS can improve neural function of mice after middle cerebral artery occlusion,and it may play an important role in protecting myelin and nerve fibers of striatum.
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Objective To investigate the correlationship between depressed behaviors and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in brain tissue in mice which are insensitive to fluoxetine,and to mimic the treatment resistant depression (TRD) in clinical condition.Methods 50 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into Control group (Control),Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) group and CUMS+fluoxetine group.Mice in Control group were raised ad libitum for 9 weeks,those in CUMS group received CUMS for 9 weeks and those in CUMS+fluoxetine group received 8 weeks' CUMS followed 1 week' s treatment with Fluoxetine(10 mg · kg-1 · d-1).At the end of the 9th week,mice in(CUMS + treatment)group were selected into antidepressant treatment-resistant mice(ATRM) as no remission and Depression Group (DM) as symptoms improved.Body mass test (BMT),open field test (OFT) and forces swim test (FST) were completed respectively in these 4 groups at the endpoint of the experiment,and the brain tissue were extracted after the tests for IL-1β Elisa test.Results (1) BMT:there was no effect of weightgain in ATRM after 1 week' s therapy with Fluoxetine.There was no difference in body-weight between ATRM ((18.56±7.56) g) and CUMS ((19.03± 8.58) g) mice,while compared with Control ((24.56±5.45) g) and DM mice ((20.12±9.17) g) ATRM and CUMS mile's body weight were significantly lower (P＜0.05).(2)OFT and FST:in OFT,there was no significant difference in of horizontal moving distance(F=0.355) either in the frequencies of entering the central zone (F=0.327) among the 4 groups;in OFT,the immobility time of ATRM ((241.50 ± ± 36.55) s) was significantly longer than that in DM ((156.00± 25.47) s) (F=13.573,P＜0.05).(3) Elisa test of IL-1β:the brain' s IL-1β serum level in ATRM ((164.90±46.70) pg/mg) was higher than those in Control ((69.68±6.56) pg/mg)),and DM ((93.09±4.65) pg/mg) (P＜0.01),while no difference with that in CUMS mice.Additionally,the depressive behaviors in ATRM showed its positive correlation with the IL-1β level in CNS (r=0.669,P=0.006).Conclusion CUMS can elicit the refractory depressive symptoms in BALB/c mice to simulate TRD' s characteristic,and the elevated level of IL-1 β within brain tissue may play an important role in the development of TRD.
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Objective To investigate the effect of quetiapine (QUE) on the memory and doublecortin (DCX) expression in the hippocampus of C57BL/6 mice with cuprizone (CPZ)-induced schizophrenia in C57BL/ 6 mice.Methods 1％ dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used as a vehicle to dissolve QUE.Three group of mice,16 in each of three groups,were treated with vehicle (control group),0.2％ CPZ alone (CPZ group) or 0.2％ CPZ combined with 10 mg· kg-1 · d-1 QUE (QUE+CPZ group) for six weeks,respectively.Spatial working memory was evaluated by Y-type maze test 24 hours after the completion of the treatment period.The number of DCX positivenew neurons was calculated by immunofluorescence staining assay.The expression of Notch1 and Hes1 mRNA were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay.Results (1) Y-maze test:CPZ group achieved a much lower percentage of correct alternation than control group ((22.70±6.70) ％ vs (57.69 ±6.70)％) in Y-maze test (P＜0.05).The percentage of correct alternation in CPZ + QUE group ((54.69± 10.06) ％) was significantly increased compared with CPZ group (P＜0.01).CPZ mice exhibited significant spatial working memory impairment.(2) Immunofluorescence staining:the number of DCX-positive cells in the hippocampus of the CPZ group (6342.85± 1801.72) was significantly decreased compared with that in control group (19428.57±2507.13) (P＜0.01),and it was reversed by QUE intervention (15928.57±2049.97).(3) RT-PCR:the Notch1 and Hes1 mRNA expression in CPZ group were significant lower than that in sham and CPZ + QUE group,(Notch1 (0.97±0.29) vs (0.23±0.20),P＜0.01);Hes1 (1.00±0.41) vs (0.38±0.30),P＜0.01),and there was no significant difference between sham group and CPZ + QUE group.Conclusion QUE is helpful to relieve CPZ-induced cognitive impairment and decreases expression of DCX in hippocampal,which may be related with activation of Notch1 pathway.
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Objective To investigate the effect of rosmarinic acid on the behavioral changes in enhanced single prolonged stress (ESPS) model rats and the levels of interlukin-1β (IL-1β) and interlukin-6 (IL-6) in the hippocampus.Methods 48 adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups (n =8):Control group,Control + RA (L) group,Control + RA (H) group,ESPS group,ESPS + RA (L) group and ESPS + RA (H) group.Behavioral changes of these rats were analyzed by open field test and elevated plus-maze.The levels of IL-1 β and IL-6 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results (1) Open field test showed that the number of central region entering and the fraction of time exploring in center of ESPS group were significantly reduced than that of Control group ((18.13 ± 10.15) times,(26.68 ± 10.06) ％) and ESPS + RA (H) group ((16.88 ± 8.81) times,(25.08 ± 8.52) ％) (P ＜ 0.05).And it showed no significant difference among Control + RA(L) group,Control + RA(H) group and Control group.Meanwhile,there was also no statistic difference between ESPS group and ESPS + RA(L) group.(2) Elevated plus-maze test showed that percentages of open arm entries and fraction of time exploring in open arm in reference to total number of entries into all arms and total time spent on all arms in ESPS group were significantly reduced than that of Control group((37.38 ± 8.24)％,(17.63 ±4.74)％) and ESPS + RA(H) group((33.72 ±9.49)％,(16.99 ±4.28)％) (P ＜ 0.05),but there was no significant difference between that of ESPS group and ESPS + RA(L) group(P＞0.05).It also showed no significant difference among Control + RA (L) group,Control + RA (H) group and Control group.(3) Compared with ESPS group,RA(10mg/kg) reduced the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in the hippocampus,but RA(5mg/kg) did not have this effect.(4) Correlation analysis results showed the level of IL-1β in the hippocampus was negatively related with the ameliorated PTSD-like behaviors of ESPS exposure rats.Conclusion RA can ameliorate PTSDlike behaviors of ESPS exposure rats,and this effect may be carried out by down-regulating the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in the hippocampus,especially the IL-1β.
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Objective To investigate the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the depressive like behaviors and expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF),IL-1β and NF-κB of hippocampal in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rats.Methods Thirty-two adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups (n =8):Control group,Control + rTMS group,CUMS group and CUMS + rTMS group.The sucrose preference test,forced swim test and open field test were used to evaluate depressive like behaviors for each groups.In addition,the expression of BDNF,NF-κB and IL-1 β in hippocampal were detected by western blot and ELISA after behavioral test,respectively.Results 1.The effects of rTMS on depressive like behaviors of CUMS rats:in the sucrose preference test,the sucrose preference rate of CUMS rats (0.67 ± 0.06) was significantly lower than Control group (0.91 ± 0.04),which was higher in the CUMS + rTMS group (0.83 ±0.08).In the forced swim test,the immobility time of CUMS group ((26.88 ± 11.33) s) was longer than Control group ((15.22 ± 6.75) s) and CUMS + rTMS group ((18.41 ± 6.95) s).In the open field test,both the total distance travelled and number of central area entry times of CUMS group((849.165 ± 769.01) cm,(7.42 ± 5.68))were significantly shorter ((6224.81 ± 1403.2) cm) and smaller (22.86 ± 3.72) than Control group,and those of the CUMS + rTMS were longer ((4105.57 ± 1516.92)cm) and larger (21.25 ± 3.45).All the behavioral results were statistically significant (P＜ 0.05).And of all the aforementioned behavioral parameters,there were no significant differences between Control group and Control + rTMS group(P＞0.05).2.The effects of rTMS on the hippocampal expressions of BDNF,NF-κB and IL-1β in CUMS rats:compared with Control group,the hippocampal expression of BDNF in CUMS rats was significantly decreased,while the expressions of NF-κB and IL-1β in the hippocampus were significantly increased (P＜ 0.05).Compared with CUMS group,the hippocampa expression of BD-NF in the CUMS + rTMS group was increased,and the expressions of NF-κB and IL-1β in the hippocampus was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05).The expressions of BDNF,NF-κB and IL-1β had no differences between Control group and Control + rTMS group.Conclusion rTMS increased the expression of BDNF,reduced the production of NF-κB and IL-1β,and alleviated depressive like behaviors in CUMS rats.
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Objective To investigate the effect of quetiapine on the behavior and expression of pERK1/2 in chronic unpredictable stress(CUS) model rats.Methods 32 adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n =8 for each group):control group,CUS group,CUS + QUE (5 mg/kg,L) group and CUS + QUE(10 mg/kg,M)group.The rats in control group were left undisturbed in their home cage for 28 days and the other groups were exposed to 28 consecutive days of CUS,then the rats in control group and CUS group were treated with 1％ DMSO in saline (5 ml/kg,intraperitoneal injection),the rats in CUS + QUE (L)group and CUS + QUE(M) group respectively treated with quetiapine (5 mg/kg)or quetiapine(10 mg/kg) for consecutive 7 days.The weight data of each group were recorded,and the behavioral changes in these rats were analyzed by open field test and forced swimming test;and the expression of pERK1/2 was measured by Western blot.Results (1)Compared with control group,quetiapine (10 mg/kg) ameliorated the inhibition of body weight gain that induced by chronic unpredictable stress (P ＜ 0.05),but quetiapine (5 mg/kg) did not have this effect.(2)Open field and Forced swimming test showed significant difference (P ＜ 0.05) of horizontal motion distance (F =17.846),the number of central region entering(F=4.720) and the immobility time(F=26.090) in each group.And these tests showed that horizontal motion distance and the number of central region entering in CUS group ((6696.30 ±1061.19)mm,(19.63 ±9.15)times) were significantly lower than that of control group ((10824.61 ± 1399.37) mm,(37.75 ± 13.02) times) and CUS + QUE (M) group ((9637.51 ± 1630.16) mm,(32.38 ± 6.23)),while the immobility time (110.73 ± 15.98)s were significantly higher than that of control group((66.13 ± 5.18)s)and CUS + QUE (M) group((73.40 ± 11.99) s,P ＜ 0.05).But there was no significant difference between that of CUS group and CUS + QUE(L) group(P＞0.05).(3)The expression of pERK1/2 in CUS group showed significant decrease when compared with control group or CUS + QUE (M) group,but showed no significant difference with CUS + QUE(L) group(F=6.641,P＜ 0.01).Conclusion Quetiapine can ameliorate depressive-like behaviors induced by chronic unpredictable stress,and this effect may be carried out by up-regulation the expression of pERK1/2 in the hippocampus.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of ziprasidone on the behavior and the expression of pERK1/2 in posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) model rats.Methods 24 adult male SD rats weighing (200 ±20) g were randomly divided into four groups (n =6):control group,single prolonged stress and foot shock (SPS&S) group,ziprasidone group and ziprasidone + U0126 group.The fear response to environment,high alertness,and anxiety & depression behavior of rats were tested by the open field,elevated plus-maze,and the expression of pERK1/2 was measured by Western blot.ResultsIn open field test(OFT),the SPS&S group( (76.23 ± 54.76) cm for horizontal motion distance,(4.60 ± 1.14) for the number of entering central region) showed significant difference compared with control group ( (343.77 ± 74.22 ) cm,( 12.40 ± 3.36 ) ) or ziprasidone group ( ( 274.98± 83.56) cm,( 12.00 ± 2.92) ) (P ＜ 0.01 ),but showed no significant difference with ziprasidone + U0126 group ( ( 138.14 ± 41.98) cm,(5.00 ± 1.58) ) (P ＞ 0.05 ).The results of elevated plus maze (EPM) were in accordance with the results of OFT.The expression of pERK1/2 in SPS&S group and ziprasidone + U0126 group showed significant decrease when compared with control group or ziprasidone group (P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionZiprasidone can obviously improve fear response to environment,high alterness and anxiety & depression behavior of rats,and these effects of ziprasidone may be carried out by up-regulation the expression of pERK1/2.
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ObjectiveTo explore the deficits of acoustic startle reflex (ASR) and prepulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle reflex in single prolonged stress rats.MethodsSixty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into control 1,7,14 d groups and stress 1,7,14 d groups.All stressed rats received single prolonged stress while all control rats were left in their home cage.Behavioral changes in these rats were analyzed in ASR and PPI paradigm.ASR and PPI were carried out on day 2,8,15,respectively.ResultsThere were no differences of ASR and PPI among control 1,7,14 d groups (P ＞ 0.05).ASR of stress 1 d group ( (92.49 ± 31.54) g) was higher than that of control 1 d group((64.48 ± 17.95)g,P＜0.05) while PPI of stress 1 d group((28.60 ±29.02)％) was lower than that of control 1 d group( (41.60 ± 15.10)％,P ＜ 0.05 ).There were no differences of ASR between control 7 d group and stress 7 d group,control 14 d group and stress 14 d group (P＞ 0.05 ).Compared with control 7 d group ( (41.30 ± 12.79) ％ ),PPI in stress 7 d group ( ( 17.95 ± 31.79) ％ ) was reduced (P ＜ 0.05 ).Compared with control 14 d group ( (41.16 ± 12.25 ) ％ ),PPI in stress 14 d group( ( 13.71 ± 32.48) ％ ) was reduced (P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionEffects of stress on ASR in rats increased in early period,while the impaired PPI may last for a long time.
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Objective To investigate the effect of sertraline on the viability and the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and phosphorylated ERK1/2 in NGF-induced rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells.Methods NGF-induced PC12 cells were pretreated or directly treated with different concentrations of sertraline for 24 or 48 hours and the pretreated groups were then subjected to serum withdrawal condition. Then cell viability was determined by the cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). The expression of Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and pERK1/2in NGF-induced PC12 cells was determined by immunohistochemistry and western blot respectively. Results The viability of NGF-induced PC12 was improved after administration with sertra]ine. After 24h sertraline administration, the cells activity of PC 12 cells at 20μM ( 1.32 ± 0. 11 ) , 10μM ( 1. 17 ± 0.05 ) of direct effect, and 20μM ( 1.15 ±0.11 ) of protect effect increased dramatically as compared with control group. But high dose ( 50μM )sertraline express high toxic effect to PC12 cells. The expression of TH was increased by sertraline 20 μM at both 24h(ratio of TH/β-actin = 1.27 ±0.05) and 48h(ratio of TH/β-actin = 1. 23 ±0.08) compare with control group,and the expression of pERK1/2 also increased dramatically by sertraline 20 μM at both 24h (ratio of (pERK1/2)/β-actin = 1.41±0.05) and 48h( ratio of (pERK1/2)/β-actin = 1.40 ±0.06) compare with control group(P＜0. 01, P ＜ 0. 05). Immunohistochemistry showed similar results. Conclusion These data suggest that the neuroprotective effect of sertraline may play an important role in depression therapy, and this effect might be mediated by TH and pERK1/2 up-regulation.