Effects of Fuhe decoction on behaviors and monoamine neurotransmitters in different brain regions of CUMS combined with social isolation depression model rats

Objective:To investigate the effect of Fuhe decoction on the behavior and levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in different brain regions in a depression rat model induced by chronic unpredictable mild stimulation(CUMS)combined with social isolation.Methods:Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group,model group,fluoxetine group,Chaiqinwendan decoction group,and Fuhe decoction group.Chronic unpredictable mild stimulation combined with a social isolation method was used to replicate the depression rat model.After 42 days of administration,a tail suspension test and high-performance liquid electrochemical detection(HPLC-ECD)were used to detect the behavioral changes and changes in the content of monoamine neurotransmitters norepinephrine(NE),dopamine(DA),5-hydroxytrytamine(5-HT),and metabolites in different brain regions of rats in each group before and after treatment.Results:Compared with the model group,the epinephrine(E)content in the Fuhe decoction group was highly significantly increased(P<.01).Compared with the model group,the 5-HT content of the prefrontal cortex in rats in the Fuhe decoction group was highly significantly increased(P<.01).Furthermore,compared with the model group,the 5-HT content in the hippocampus of rats in the Fuhe decoction group was significantly increased(P<.05).Conclusion:Fuhe decoction can improve the depression-like behaviors of model rats,and its antidepressant effect may be related to the increase in 5-HT content in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of rats.