Modulation of hippocampal neuronal activity by So-ochim-tang-gamibang in mice subjected to chronic restraint stress

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Research Article

Chan Yong Lee¹  In Chul Jung²  Hyun Jin Shin³  Jae Ho Lee³  Hwa Chul Shin³  Ki Joong Kim³  Jeong June Choi³  Uk Namgung³ 

[1] Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Daejeon University, 34520, Daejeon, Republic of Korea;Department of Neuropsychiatry, Dunsan Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University, 35235, Daejeon, Republic of Korea;Department of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon University, 34520, Daejeon, Republic of Korea;

关键词: So-ochim-tang-gamibang;    Serotonin receptor;    Hippocampus;    Chronic restraint stress;    Depression;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12906-017-1963-1

 received in 2017-06-13, accepted in 2017-09-01,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSo-ochim-tang-gamibang (SOCG) is a decoction formula which has been used to improve mental activity in traditional Korean medicine. The present study was performed to evaluate whether the treatment of SOCG was involved in activating hippocampal neurons in mice which were subjected to chronic restraint stress (CRS).MethodsMice were subjected to CRS for 2 weeks to induce depressive-like behaviors. SOCG was orally administered for the same period. mRNA expression in the hippocampus was analyzed by RT-PCR. Levels of serotonin receptor 5-HT1AR in the hippocampus were determined by western blotting and by immunofluorescence staining in coronal brain sections. Cultured neurons were prepared from the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in mice to examine the effects of CRS and SOCG treatment on neurite outgrowth. Depressive-like behaviors of experimental animals were measured by open field test (OFT) and forced swimming test (FST).ResultsmRNA levels of serotonin 1A and 1B receptors (5-HT1AR and 5-HT1BR) were decreased in the hippocampus of CRS animals and increased by SOCG treatment. Signals of 5-HT1AR protein in CA3 pyramidal cells were decreased by CRS but elevated back to levels in control animals after SOCG treatment. Phospho-Erk1/2 protein in CA3 cells showed similar pattern of changes as in 5-HT1AR, suggesting coordinated regulation after SOCG treatment in CRS animals. Axonal growth-associated protein GAP-43 levels were also decreased by CRS and then increased by SOCG treatment. In vivo administration of SOCG improved neurite outgrowth of primary DRG neurons from CRS animals and also increased 5-HT1AR protein signals. Behavioral tests of open field and forced swimming showed that immobility time periods were significantly decreased by SOCG treatment.ConclusionsOur data suggest that SOCG treatment may increase synaptic responsiveness to serotonergic neuronal inputs by upregulating 5-HT1AR in the hippocampal neurons.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017