RESUMO
Postmenopausal syndrome refers to symptoms caused by the gradual decrease in female hormones after mid-40 years. As a target organ of estrogen, decrease in estrogen causes various changes in brain function such as a decrease in choline acetyltransferase and brain-derived neurotrophic factor; thus, postmenopausal women experience cognitive decline and more depressive symptoms than age-matched men. Radix Polygalae has been used for memory boosting and as a mood stabilizer and its components have shown neuroprotective, antidepressant, and stress relief properties. In a mouse model of estrogen depletion induced by 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide, Radix Polygalae was orally administered for 3 weeks. In these animals, cognitive and depression-related behaviors and molecular changes related to these behaviors were measured in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Radix Polygalae improved working memory and contextual memory and despair-related behaviors in 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide-treated mice without increasing serum estradiol levels in this model. In relation to these behaviors, choline acetyltransferase and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus and bcl-2-associated athanogene expression increased in the hippocampus. These results implicate the possible benefit of Radix Polygalae in use as a supplement of estrogen to prevent conditions such as postmenopausal depression and cognitive decline.
Assuntos
Disfunção Cognitiva/etiologia , Disfunção Cognitiva/metabolismo , Depressão/etiologia , Depressão/metabolismo , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/farmacologia , Estradiol/metabolismo , Menopausa/efeitos dos fármacos , Menopausa/metabolismo , Animais , Comportamento Animal , Disfunção Cognitiva/tratamento farmacológico , Depressão/tratamento farmacológico , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Ciclo Estral/efeitos dos fármacos , Ciclo Estral/metabolismo , Feminino , Expressão Gênica , Regulação da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Hipocampo/efeitos dos fármacos , Hipocampo/metabolismo , Camundongos , Córtex Pré-Frontal/efeitos dos fármacos , Córtex Pré-Frontal/metabolismo , Vagina/efeitos dos fármacos , Vagina/metabolismo , Vagina/patologiaRESUMO
An evolutionary optimization process involving a genetic algorithm and combinatorial chemistry was employed for the development of green phosphors which are suitable for tricolor white-light-emitting diodes. To accomplish a high luminescent efficiency at 400 nm excitation, we screened a seven-cation oxide system including Tb, Gd, Ce, Mg, Si, Al, and B. The combination of a genetic algorithm and combinatorial chemistry enhanced the searching efficiency when applied for phosphor screening. As a result, the optimized composition was Tb(0.01)Gd(0.02)Ce(0.04)B(0.1)Si(0.83)O(delta), The luminance of this borosilicate glass was 67% that of ZnS:Cu,Al at 400-nm excitation.