Objective: To investigate the effects of Ganmai Dazao Tang on behavior and monoamine neurotransmitters in rats with depression, and to explore its potential mechanism from synaptic structure. Methods: Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal control group, model group, fluoxetine group (10.8 mg/kg), Ganmai Dazao Tang high and low dose group (9.72, 4.86 g/kg), 12 rats in each group. Except the control group, the rats in the other groups were all chronically unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) to establish a depression model, and were treated by intragastric administration for 21 days. The depression-like behaviors of rats were evaluated by sucrose consumption test and open field test. The contents of serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) in hippocampus were detected by ELISA. The synaptic damage of neurons was observed by Golgi staining. The synaptic structure protein expression levels of MAP-2 and GAP-43 of hippocampus were detected by Immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Results: Compared with control group, the sucrose preference and autonomic activity scores of the depression model rats were decreased significantly (P＜0.01), the levels of 5-HT and NE in hippocampus were decreased significantly (P＜0.01), and the dendritic spines were absent, and the expressions of MAP-2 and GAP-43 were down-regulated significantly (P＜0.01). After treated with Ganmai Dazao Tang, the depression-like behavior of the model rats was significantly relieved (P＜0.01), and the levels of 5-HT and NE were increased (P＜ 0.05). Dendritic spine density, length and branching were increased, the expressions of MAP-2 and GAP-43 were increased (P＜ 0.01). Conclusion: Ganmai Dazao Tang can improve the depression-like behavior of depression model rats and increase the monoamine neurotransmitter content in hippocampus, which may be related to up-regulation of synaptic structural proteins and relief of synaptic damage in neurons.
目的: 观察甘麦大枣汤对抑郁模型大鼠行为学及单胺递质的影响,并从突触结构及结构蛋白MAP-2与GAP-43表达改变探讨其潜在作用机制。方法: 60只SD大鼠随机分为5组:正常对照组、模型组、氟西汀组(10.8 mg/kg)、甘麦大枣汤高、低剂量组(9.72、4.86 g/kg),每组12只。除对照组外,其余各组大鼠均采用慢性不可预见性温和应激(CUMS)建立抑郁模型,并于造模同时给药组灌胃给药,连续21 d。采用糖水消耗实验和旷场测试评价大鼠抑郁样行为,ELISA法检测海马单胺递质5-HT、NE含量,Golgi染色观察神经元突触损伤情况,免疫组化法和Western blot法检测海马突触结构蛋白MAP-2和GAP-43的表达。结果: 与对照组比较,抑郁模型大鼠糖水偏好度及自主活动评分均显著下降(P＜0.01),海马5-HT、NE含量显著下降(P＜0.01),树突棘缺失明显,同时MAP-2和GAP-43表达均显著下调(P＜0.01);甘麦大枣汤干预后,模型大鼠抑郁样行为明显缓解(P＜0.01),5-HT、NE含量显著升高(P＜0.05),树突棘密度、长度及分枝增加,MAP-2和GAP-43表达显著回升(P＜0.01)。结论: 甘麦大枣汤能改善抑郁模型大鼠的抑郁样行为,升高海马单胺递质含量,其作用可能与上调突触结构蛋白、缓解神经元突触损伤有关。.
Keywords: Ganmai Dazao Tang; depression; hippocampus; rat; synapse.