Effects of Kaixinjieyu, a Chinese herbal medicine preparation, on neurovascular unit dysfunction in rats with vascular depression

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Research Article

Wen Chen¹  Juhua Pan¹  Duojiao Li¹  Jialong Wang¹  Yanyun Wang¹  Shijing Huang¹  Jun Zheng¹  Qihua Liu¹  Ying Zhang¹  Hanming Cui¹  Xiaoming Lei² 

[1] Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, 100053, Beijing, China;Huangpi District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 430300, Wuhan, Hubei, China;

关键词: Kaixinjieyu;    Chinese herbal medicine;    Vascular depression;    Neurovascular unit;    Blood–brain barrier;    Neurogenesis;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12906-015-0808-z

 received in 2015-02-16, accepted in 2015-08-07,  发布年份 2015

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundKaixinjieyu (KJ), derived from Kaixin and Sini powder, is an effective Chinese herbal medicine preparation used in the treatment of vascular depression (VD). We hypothesize that broad antidepressant effect of KJ results from the improved neurovascular unit (NVU) function via neurogenesis, permeability of blood–brain barrier (BBB) and balance of the fibrinolytic system.MethodsA VD model of rat was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress and separation after ligation of the bilateral common carotid arteries. The rats were treated with KJ and fluoxetine hydrochloride (FLU) for 21 days, respectively. The behavior and cerebral perfusion were investigated and then NVU functions including neurogenesis, permeability of BBB and balance of the fibrinolytic system were studied using a number of biomarkers and TUNEL assay.ResultsKJ significantly increased sucrose preference, moving distance, number of rearing and cortical blood flow. NVU functions measured by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) proteins and mRNA, zona occludens protein-1 (ZO-1), occludin and claudin-5 proteins increased significantly, whereas, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) proteins, mRNA and apoptotic rates of neurons decreased significantly with treatment of KJ. FLU has a function similar to KJ in behavior, regulation of BDNF, TrkB, MMP-2, occludin and apoptotic rates of cells.ConclusionsKJ has function of reducing depression-like behavior and improving cerebral hypoperfusion, which might be mediated by the up-regulation of neurogenesis and tight junction of BBB, and balance of the fibrinolytic system. The results imply that KJ is better than FLU in improving cerebral hypoperfusion and the fibrinolytic system.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Pan et al. 2015