[Antidepressant mechanism of Shenling Kaixin Granules based on BDNF/TrkB/CREB pathway].

To investigate the antidepressant mechanism of Shenling Kaixin Granules(SLKX) in treating chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS) model rats. Ninety male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, Shugan Jieyu Capsules(110 mg·kg~(-1)) group and SLKX low-(90 mg·kg~(-1)), medium-(180 mg·kg~(-1)), and high-dose(360 mg·kg~(-1)) groups. Depression rat model was replicated by CUMS method. After treatment, the behavioral changes of rats were evaluated by sugar preference, open field, elevated cross maze and forced swimming experiments. The contents of interleukin 1 beta(IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) and 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) in serum were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase(CAT) in hippocampal CA1 region were also detected. Pathological changes in hippocampal CA1 region were detected by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, and Western blot was used to determine the expression of nerve growth factor(NGF), BDNF, phospho-tyrosine kinase receptor(p-TrkB)/TrkB, phospho-cAMP-response element binding protein(p-CREB)/CREB, nuclear factor E2 related factor 2(Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1(HO-1), B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)/Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax) and caspase-3 in hippocampal CA1 region. RESULTS:: showed that compared with the control group, the model group had decreased sugar preference, reduced number of entries and time spent in the center of open field and shortened total distance of movement, reduced number of entries and proportion of time spent in open arm, and increased number and time of immobility in forced swimming experiment. Additionally, the serum contents of IL-1ß and TNF-α and the expression of caspase-3 were higher, while the contents of BDNF and 5-HT, the activities of SOD and CAT in hippocampal CA1 region, the expressions of NGF, BDNF, p-TrkB/TrkB, p-CREB/CREB, HO-1 and Bcl-2/Bax, and the Nrf2 nuclear translocation were lower in model group than in control group. Compared with the conditions in model group, the sugar preference, the number of entries and time spent in the center of open, total distance of movement, and the number of entries and proportion of time spent in open arm in treatment groups were increased while the number and time of immobility in forced swimming experiment were decreased; the serum contents of IL-1ß and TNF-α and the expression of caspase-3 were down regulated, while the contents of BDNF and 5-HT, the activities of SOD and CAT in hippocampal CA1 region, the expressions of NGF, BDNF, p-TrkB/TrkB, p-CREB/CREB, HO-1, Bcl-2/Bax, and Nrf2 nuclear translocation were enhanced. In conclusion, SLKX might regulate the Nrf2 nucleus translocation by activating BDNF/TrkB/CREB pathway, lower oxidative stress damage in hippocampus, inhibit caspase-3 activity, and reduce apoptosis of hippocampal nerve cells, thereby playing an antidepressant role.

[Neuroprotective effect of ginsenoside Re on drosophila model of Parkinson's disease].

This study aims to explore the neuroprotective mechanism of ginsenoside Re(GS-Re) on drosophila model of Parkinson's disease(PD) induced by rotenone(Rot). To be specific, Rot was used to induce PD in drosophilas. Then the drosophilas were grouped and respectively treated(GS-Re: 0.1, 0.4, 1.6 mmol·L~(-1); L-dopa: 80 µmol·L~(-1)). Life span and crawling ability of drosophilas were determined. The brain antioxidant activity [content of catalase(CAT), malondialdehyde(MDA), reactive oxygen species(ROS), superoxide dismutase(SOD)], dopamine(DA) content, and mitochondrial function [content of adenosine triphosphate(ATP), NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit B8(NDUFB8) Ⅰ activity, succinate dehydrogenase complex, subunit B(SDHB) Ⅱ activity] were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The number of DA neurons in the brains of drosophilas was measured with the immunofluorescence method. The levels of NDUFB8 Ⅰ, SDHB Ⅱ, cytochrome C(Cyt C), nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2(Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1(HO-1), B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 2(Bcl-2)/Bcl-2-assaciated X protein(Bax), and cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 in the brain were detected by Western blot. The results showed that model group [475 µmol·L~(-1) Rot(IC_(50))] demonstrated significantly low survival rate, obvious dyskinesia, small number of neurons and low DA content in the brain, high ROS level and MDA content, low content of SOD and CAT, significantly low ATP content, NDUFB8 Ⅰ activity, and SDHB Ⅱ activity, significantly low expression of NDUFB8 Ⅰ, SDHB Ⅱ, and Bcl-2/Bax, large amount of Cyt C released from mitochondria to cytoplasm, low nuclear transfer of Nrf2, and significantly high expression of cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 compared with the control group. GS-Re(0.1, 0.4, and 1.6 mmol·L~(-1)) significantly improved the survival rate of PD drosophilas, alleviated the dyskinesia, increased DA content, reduced the loss of DA neurons, ROS level, and MDA content in brain, improved content of SOD and CAT and antioxidant activity in brain, maintained mitochondrial homeostasis(significantly increased ATP content and activity of NDUFB8 Ⅰ and SDHB Ⅱ, significantly up-regulated expression of NDUFB8 Ⅰ, SDHB Ⅱ, and Bcl-2/Bax), significantly reduced the expression of Cyt C, increased the nuclear transfer of Nrf2, and down-regulated the expression of cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3. In conclusion, GS-Re can significantly relieve the Rot-induced cerebral neurotoxicity in drosophilas. The mechanism may be that GS-Re activates Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway by maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis, improves antioxidant capacity of brain neurons, then inhibits mitochondria-mediated caspase-3 signaling pathway, and the apoptosis of neuronal cells, thereby exerting the neuroprotective effect.

[Xiao's "xingnaofusu" needling for regaining consciousness and the influence on width of the third ventricle in patients with persistent vegetative state].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of Xiao's "xingnaofusu" needling (the technique for resuscitation) on regaining consciousness in the patients with persistent vegetative state (PVS). METHODS: A total of 50 patients of PVS were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 25 cases in each. The patients in the control group were treated by the routine western medicine, and those in the observation group treated by Xiao's "xingnaofusu" needling and routine western medicine. Baihui (GV20), Dingshen (Extra) to Shangen (Extra) (penetrating technique), Fengchi (GB20) to GB20 (penetrating technique), Neiguan (PC6) to Waiguan (TE5) (penetrating technique), Hegu (LI4) to Laogong (HT8) (penetrating technique) and Taichong (LR3) to Yongquan (KI1) (penetrating technique) were selected. The treatment was given once a day, 10 days as one treatment course, 3 courses in total. The coma recovery scale-revised (CRS-R) score, the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) score and the Glasgow coma scale (GCS) were separately compared before and after the treatment. Additionally, CT scanning was adopted to measure the width of the third ventricle before and after treatment so as to evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect. RESULTS: After the treatment, the CRS-R and GCS scores in the two groups increased remarkably, and MAS score reduced obviously as compared with that before the treatment(P<0.05); and the CRS-R and GCS scores were higher, and MAS score lower in the observation group than those in the control group(P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the width of the third ventricle reduced obviously in the observation group after the treatment(P<0.05). At the end of the treatment courses, the effective rate was 79.2%(19/24)in the observation group and was 47.8%(11/23) in the control group. The effective rate of the observation group was obviously higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Xiao's "xingnaofusu" needling can remarkably improve the central nerve function, promote the recovery of brain function and the motor function of limbs, reduce the width of the third ventricle and improve the clinical therapeutic effect of regaining consciousness in the patients with PVS.

[Nitrogen and phosphorus input from wet deposition in Taihu Lake region: a case study in Changshu Agro-ecological Experimental Station].

From June 2003 to May 2004, the precipitation at Changshu Agro-ecological Station (31 degrees 32'45" N, 120 degrees 41'57" E) of Chinese Academy of Sciences was collected to monitor its particle- and dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, with the seasonal variation of nitrogen and phosphorus in wet deposition in Taihu Lake region investigated. The nitrogen input from wet deposition had an obvious seasonal variation, being higher in summer and spring and lower in autumn and winter. The ratios of dissolved nitrogen (DN) and particle nitrogen (PN) to total nitrogen (TN) in wet deposition were 88.2% and 11.8%, and those of dissolved phosphorus (DP) and particle phosphorus (PP) to total phosphorus (TP) were 53.3% and 46.7%, respectively. The amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus deposited into Taihu Lake region by light and medium precipitation were higher than those by heavy precipitation. The annual input of TN and TP from wet deposition was 30.2 kg x hm(-2) and 1.1 kg x hm(-2), respectively, and the DN concentration in all precipitation events as well as the DP concentration in 92.5% of precipitation events was higher than the thresholds of inland water eutrophication.