Serotonergic and dopaminergic systems are implicated in antidepressant-like effects of chotosan, a Kampo formula, in mice.

We previously demonstrated that chotosan (CTS), a traditional herbal formula called Kampo medicine, improves diabetes-induced cognitive deficits. In the present study, we investigated the antidepressant-like effects of CTS in mice. The administration of CTS (1.0 g/kg, for 3 days) decreased the immobility time in the forced-swim test, and this decrease was prevented by the prior administration of sulpiride (an antagonist of D2/3 receptors) and WAY100635 (an antagonist of 5-HT1A receptors). None of the treatments tested altered the locomotor activity of mice. These results suggest that CTS exerts antidepressant-like effects through changes in the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems.

Usefulness of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography for hemodynamic management of liver transplantation in a patient with massive polycystic liver disease: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hemodynamic management during anesthesia in liver transplantation for patients with polycystic liver disease (PLD) can be more challenging because of the bleeding and hemodynamic alterations due to the markedly enlarged liver. We hereby report a case of PLD wherein transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was employed for optimal hemodynamic monitoring during liver transplantation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 61-year-old man was scheduled to undergo liver transplantation for massive PLD. Hemodynamic instability was associated with mechanical displacement of the giant cystic liver. TEE results revealed the collapse of the inferior vena cava due to liver displacement. TEE also detected intrathoracic hemorrhage triggered by detachment from the markedly enlarged liver. CONCLUSION: TEE is a valuable monitoring tool for sharing information with surgeons and diagnostic modality for finding the source of bleeding in liver transplantation for PLD and may contribute majorly to the quality of perioperative management.

Neoechinulin A induced memory improvements and antidepressant-like effects in mice.

Neoechinulin A is an isoprenyl indole alkaloid that exhibits scavenging, neurotrophic factor-like, and anti-apoptotic activities. However, the effectiveness of neoechinulin A in animal models of disease has not yet been explored. In the present study, we investigated the effects of neoechinulin A on memory impairment in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice and its antidepressant-like effects in mice. In the Y-maze test, the intracerebroventicular (i.c.v.) administration of LPS (10µg/mouse) significantly decreased spontaneous alternation behavior, which was prevented by the prior administration of neoechinulin A (300ng/mouse, i.c.v.). None of the treatments altered the locomotor activity of mice. Moreover, the administration of neoechinulin A decreased the immobility time in the forced-swim test or tail suspension test, which was prevented by the prior administration of WAY100635 (an antagonist of 5-HT1A receptors) and parachlorophenylalanine (an inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase). These results suggest that neoechinulin A improves memory functions in LPS-treated mice, and also exerts antidepressant-like effects through changes in the 5-HT system.