解郁丸对WKY大鼠的抑郁样行为及海马和前额叶皮层BDNF表达的影响

Effect of Jieyuwan on depression-like behaviors and expression of BDNF in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of WKY rats

目的:观察解郁丸对Wistar-Kyoto(WKY)大鼠抑郁样行为及脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)在海马和前额叶皮层表达的影响,探讨其抗抑郁作用及相关机制。方法:成年雄性WKY大鼠为内源性抑郁动物模型,选取同品系Wistar大鼠作为空白对照组,WKY大鼠随机分为模型组、西酞普兰组和解郁丸组,分别灌胃给药21 d后,用糖水偏好实验及强迫游泳实验观察各组大鼠抑郁行为变化;采用免疫荧光法和Western blot法检测海马及前额叶皮层BDNF表达水平的变化。结果:WKY大鼠表现出明显的抑郁样行为,海马及前额叶皮层的BDNF表达量显著下降,且海马区神经元轴突减少(P<0.01);在药物治疗后,WKY大鼠的抑郁样行为明显减少,BDNF在海马及前额叶皮层中的表达增加,且轴突数目也增加(P<0.01)。结论:解郁丸能有效减少WKY大鼠的抑郁样行为;BDNF是其抗抑郁作用发挥的关键因子。本研究也进一步验证BDNF参与抑郁的发生发展过程。

AIM: To investigate the mechanism of depression and its development, and to study the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of Wistar-Kyoto(WKY) rats treated with Jieyuwan. METHODS: Adult male WKY rats were used as an animal model of endogenous depression. Wistar rats of the same strain were selected as control group. WKY rats were randomly divided into model group, citalopram group and Jieyuwan group. After intragastric administration for 21 d, the changes of depression-like behaviors were observed by sucrose preference test and forced swimming test. Immunofluorescence and Western blot were used to detect the expression of BDNF in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. RESULTS: WKY rats showed significant depression-like behaviors, and the expression of BDNF was significantly decreased in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex(P<0.01). The reduction of neuronal axons in hippocampus was also observed. After drug treatment, the depression-like behaviors of WKY rats were significantly attenuated, and the expression of BDNF and the number of axons were increased(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Jieyuwan effectively attenuates the depression-like behaviors of WKY rats, and BDNF is a key factor in its antidepressant effect. Our findings further confirm the involvement of BDNF in the development of depression.