Anti-depressant Mechanism of Qing' ewan in CUMS Rats Based on Estrogen Receptor Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective::To study the anti-depressive effect of Qing' ewan in treating chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in rats, and the regulatory effect on estrogen receptor and estrogen receptor-related signaling pathways, in order to explore its anti-depressive mechanism. Method::The CUMS model was established. The experiment was divided into normal control group, model group, escitalopram oxalate group (positive control) and Qing' ewan groups (1.71, 5.13, 15.39 g·kg-1). After 4 weeks of modeling, rats were treated with corresponding drugs for 2 weeks. Behavioral evaluation [sucrose preference test (SPT), forced swimming test (FST), open field test (OFT)] was conducted to assess if the CUMS model was successful. Western blot was used to analyze the protein expression levels of estrogen receptor α (ERα), estrogen receptor β (ERβ), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB). Result::Compared with the normal group, the sucrose consumption rate and the score of OFT in the model group decreased(P<0.05, P<0.01), the immobility time of FST prolonged significantly(P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of ERα, ERβ, BDNF and TrkB decreased(P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the behavioral performance of the treated group was improved, the sucrose consumption rate and the score of OFT increased(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the immobility time decreased(P<0.05). The protein expressions of ERα, ERβ, BDNF and TrkB in the treated group were significantly up-regulated(P<0.05, P<0.01), especially the middle-dose Qing' ewan group (5.13 g·kg-1). Conclusion::Qing' ewan can improve depression-like behavior in CUMS rats. Its mechanism may be related to the neuroprotective effect by up-regulating the expressions of ERα and ERβ and activating estrogen receptor-mediated ERβ/BDNF/TrkB pathways.