Authors: JiaXu Chen Wei Li Xin Zhao JianXing Yang
Publish Date: 2007/07/24
Volume: 28, Issue: 5, Pages: 745-755
Abstract
The Xiaoyaosan XYS decoction a Chinese traditional prescription containing eight commonly used herbs has been used for treatment of mental disorders such as depression for centuries in China However the mechanism underlying its antidepressant activity is poorly understood In rats with chronic immobilization stress CIS we examined the effects of the XYS decoction on tail suspension behavior and the levels of brainderived neurotrophic factor BDNF tyroxine hydroxylase TrkB and neurotrophin 3 NT3 in the frontal cortex and hippocampus Rats subjected to CIS exhibited decreases in weightgain food intake and ambulation in the open field test they also showed an increase in immobility in the tail suspension test These were all attenuated by the XYS decoction Biochemically the XYS decoction also reversed CISinduced decreases in BDNF and increases in TrkB and NT3 in the frontal cortex and the hippocampal CA1 subregion The behavioral effects of the XYS were correlated to the biochemical actions These results suggest that the XYS decoction produces an antidepressantlike effect which appears to be involved by BDNF in the brainGratitude is expressed to Dr Hangting Zhang who works at West Virginia University for editing the manuscript This research was supported by research grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China No 30672578 30000216 Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education No 20060026001 the Teaching and Research Award Program for Outstanding Young Teachers in Higher Education Institutions of MOE PRC Fok Ying Tong Education Foundation No 81037 and Foundation for the Authors of National Excellent Doctoral Dissertations of China No 200059 to JiaXu Chen
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