Sini Powder extract produces antidepressant-like effects in a chronic social defeat stress model of depression in tree shrews

四逆散提取物对慢性社会竞争失败树鼩抑郁模型的干预作用（英文）

Sini Power（SP） is a famed traditional Chinese formula that has long been used to treat depression. Here, we investigated the effects and possible mechanisms of SP extract on an established model of depression： chronic stressed tree shrew, which mimics the human condition of social stress. The animals were divided into 4 groups. Except for the na？ve group, the other animals were subjected to daily social defeat stress for 5 weeks, and during the last 4 weeks treated with SP extract（3.6 g/kg/d）, fluoxetine（15 mg/kg/d）, and vehicle, respectively. The results showed that SP extract could reverse body weight loss to a certain extent and reduce the levels of urine/serum cortisol that were initially increased by chronic social defeat. In addition, SP extract increased hippocampus norepinephrine concentrations. Our data suggested that SP extract had positive effects on the main depression symptoms in the chronic stressed tree shrew model and that it may be used to help control hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity.

四逆散是一个著名的中药复方,长久以来用于治疗抑郁症。在本研究中,我们探索了四逆散提取物对于社会竞争失败树鼩抑郁模型的作用及可能机制。动物分为4组,除了空白组外,其他动物接受5周的社会竞争失败应激,后4周分别给予四逆散提取物(3.6 g/kg/d),氟西汀(15 mg/kg/d)与蒸馏水。结果表明,四逆散提取物可以逆转慢性应激造成的体重下降和尿/血皮质醇升高;还可以升高海马中去甲肾上腺素的水平。结果证明,四逆散提取物对于社会竞争失败树鼩抑郁模型的主要症状有治疗作用,机制可能与缓解应激后高度活跃的下丘脑—皮质—肾上腺轴有关。