scholarly journals Mechanisms Underlying the Antidepressant Effect of Acupuncture via the CaMK Signaling Pathway

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Bai ◽  
Di Zhang ◽  
Tao-Tao Cui ◽  
Ji-Fei Li ◽  
Yang-Yang Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Molecular Mechanism ◽  
Rat Model ◽  
Emotional Response ◽  
Antidepressant Effect ◽  
Mild Stress ◽  
Work And Life

The CaMK pathway has been proven to play an important role in regulating cognitive function and emotional response. Acupuncture through the CaMK pathway improves depression-like behavior and the molecular mechanism related to its antidepressant remains to be explored. In this study, we aimed to determine whether the ability of acupuncture at Baihui (GV20) and Shenting (GV24) points to treat depression is related to the regulation of key proteins in the CaMK pathway. A rat model of depression was induced by chronic unpredicted mild stress (CUMS). Model rats in the electroacupuncture group were subjected to acupuncture at the Baihui (GV20) and Shenting (GV24) acupoints once a day for 20 min. Model rats in the fluoxetine group were gavaged with fluoxetine (1.8 mg/kg). Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting assays were used to evaluate immunoreactivity for and the protein expression levels of CaMKII, CaMKIV, and CaM. The results showed that electroacupuncture had a significant effect in rats with depression. Electroacupuncture and fluoxetine regulated the expression of key proteins in the CaMK signaling pathway, which is related to depression, in the hippocampi of rats. This indicates that acupuncture at Baihui (GV20) and Shenting (GV24) may alleviate depressive symptoms and reduce work- and life-related burdens and stress by regulating the CaMK signaling pathway.

scholarly journals Antidepressant-Like Effects and Cognitive Enhancement of Coadministration of Chaihu Shugan San and Fluoxetine: Dependent on the BDNF-ERK-CREB Signaling Pathway in the Hippocampus and Frontal Cortex

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lijing Yan ◽  
Xia Xu ◽  
Zhenyu He ◽  
Sheng Wang ◽  
Linlin Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Frontal Cortex ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Antidepressant Effect ◽  
Control Group ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Mild Stress ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Bdnf Mrna

Background. Fluoxetine (FLU) is the first-line and widely used medication for depression; however, FLU treatment is almost ineffective in 30%-40% of patients with depression. In addition, there are some problems in FLU treatment, such as delayed efficacy, large side effects, and poor tolerance. Chaihu Shugan San (CSS) is a classic and effective antidepressant Chinese herbal medicine that has been used in China for thousands of years. CSS or coadministration of CSS and FLU has become one of the most recommended methods in the treatment of depression in China. However, the specific pathways of CSS and coadministration of CSS and FLU for antidepressant are still unclear. Objective. This study was designed to evaluate the antidepressant effects of CSS and coadministration of CSS and FLU. Methods. The chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rat model was used to simulate depression. 120 healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into seven groups: the control group, CUMS group, low-dose CSS group, high-dose CSS group, FLU group, coadministration of low-dose CSS and FLU group, and coadministration of high-dose CSS and FLU group. The rats in different groups were given different interventions. Then, the depression-like behavior and cognitive function were evaluated by the sucrose preference test (SPT), forced swimming test (FST), open field test (OFT), and Y-maze test. What is more, the antidepressant mechanism of CSS and coadministration of CSS and FLU were studied through BDNF mRNA, ERK mRNA, CREB mRNA, BDNF, p-ERK/ERK, and p-CREB/CREB levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex by Western blot and RT-PCR. Results. Compared with the CUMS group, CSS and coadministration of CSS and FLU could alleviate the depressive symptoms and improve cognitive function in CUMS rats (p<0.05); CSS and coadministration of CSS and FLU could increase the expression of BDNF, p-CREB/CREB, p-ERK/ERK, and BDNF mRNA, CREB mRNA, and ERK mRNA in the hippocampus and frontal cortex (p<0.05). Besides, the high-dose CSS combined with the fluoxetine group was significantly better than the fluoxetine group and CSS group (p<0.05). Discussion and Conclusion. Finally, we found that both CSS and coadministration of CSS and FLU play an antidepressant role, which may be due to the regulation of the BDNF/ERK/CREB signaling pathway in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. Among them, the coadministration of CSS and FLU can enhance the antidepressant effect of CSS or FLU alone, and the underlying mechanism needs further investigation.

scholarly journals Inhibition of the SOCS1-JAK2-STAT3 Signaling Pathway Confers Neuroprotection in Rats with Ischemic Stroke

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Lei Wang ◽  
Chun-Mei Qiao ◽  
Jiong-Ou Liu ◽  
Chun-Yang Li
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Cell Viability ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Rat Model ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Neuronal Cells ◽  
Stat3 Signaling ◽  
Stat3 Signaling Pathway ◽  
Mrna And Protein Expression

Background: The present study aims to investigate the protective effects of the SOCS1-JAK2-STAT3 signaling pathway on neurons in a rat model of ischemic stroke. Methods: Our study was conducted using an ischemic stroke rat model. After the microglia were extracted, 40 neonatal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were assigned into the blank, AG490, model and negative control (NC) groups. The neurological function of all the rats was evaluated. Histopathological changes were observed. qRT-PCR and western blotting were applied to measure the expression of genes and proteins in the SOCS1-JAK2-STAT3 signaling pathway and related to apoptosis. The TUNEL assay was conducted to calculate the cellular morphology and apoptosis of neuronal cells. Cell viability was detected using the MTT assay. In addition, immunoassays were used to measure the content of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as the levels of oxidative stress. Results: Compared with the blank group, the model and NC groups showed higher neurological function scores—the cytoplasm of the neurons were cavitated, the organelles were reduced with unclear margins, some of the neurons were necrotic, and apoptosis was increased. In addition, the NC and model groups exhibited decreased cell viability, lower mRNA and protein expression of SOCS1 SOCS3 and bcl-2 and reduced SOD and GSH levels but higher mRNA and protein expression levels of AK2, STAT3,Bax and caspase-3 as well as increased protein expression of P-JAK2, P-STAT3 and activated caspase-3 (c-caspase-3). Moreover, the MDA levels were up-regulated in the NC and model groups. In contrast, opposing trends were found in the AG490 group compared with the NC and model groups. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that inhibiting the SOCS1-JAK2-STAT3 signaling pathway can reduce the loss of nerve function and apoptosis of neuronal cells, which provides a new target for the clinical treatment of ischemic stroke.

scholarly journals The Antidepressant Effect ofAngelica sinensisExtracts on Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress-Induced Depression Is Mediated via the Upregulation of the BDNF Signaling Pathway in Rats

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Shen ◽  
Junjian Zhang ◽  
Min Deng ◽  
Yue Liu ◽  
Yuan Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Preference Test ◽  
Camp Response Element Binding ◽  
Sucrose Preference ◽  
Antidepressant Effect ◽  
Force Swim Test ◽  
Mild Stress ◽  
Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress ◽  
Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Bdnf Signaling

Angelica sinensis(AS), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has pharmaceutical effects on menstrual illness, cerebrovascular diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cognitive impairments. However, until recently, few studies had explored its antidepressant effect. The current study attempts to investigate the effect of AS extracts on chronic unpredictable mild stress- (CUMS-) induced depression in rats. Male SD rats were exposed to a CUMS-inducing procedure for 5 weeks, resulting in rodent depressive behaviors that included reduced sucrose consumption and lessened sucrose preference ratios in sucrose preference test, prolonged immobility times and decreased struggling time in force swim test, and decreased locomotor activity in open field test. Moreover, the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the phosphorylation of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK 1/2) were markedly decreased in the hippocampus in depressed rats. However, chronically treating the depressed rats with AS (1 g/kg) normalized their depression-related behaviors and molecular profiles. In conclusion, in the present study, we show that AS extracts exerted antidepressant effects that were mediated by the BDNF signaling pathway: in AS-treated depressed rats, the expression of the BDNF protein and the phosphorylation of its downstream targets (ERK 1/2, CREB) were upregulated in the hippocampus.

The Molecular Mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi Stems and Leaves Flavonoids in Promoting Neurogenesis and Improving Memory Impairment by the PI3K-AKT-CREB Signaling Pathway in Rats

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian-qian Liu ◽  
Sheng-kai Ding ◽  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Ya-zhen Shang
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Molecular Mechanism ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Model Group ◽  
Memory Errors ◽  
Scutellaria Baicalensis Georgi ◽  
Protein Expressions ◽  
Stems And Leaves

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect, and molecular mechanism of Scutellaria Baicalensis Georgi stems and leaves flavonoids (SSF) in promoting neurogenesis and improving memory impairment induced by the PI3K-AKT-CREB signaling pathway. Methods: Alzheimer's disease (AD) was induced in the male Wistar rats by intracerebroventricular injection of amyloid beta-peptide 25-35 (Aβ25-35) in combination with aluminum trichloride (AlCl3) and recombinant human transforming growth factor-β1(RHTGF-β1) (composited Aβ). The Morris water maze was used to screen the successful establishment of the memory impairment model of rats. The screened successful model rats were randomly divided into a model group and three groups of three different doses of the drug (SSF). Rats in the drug group were treated with 35, 70, and 140 mg/kg of SSF for 43 days. The Eight-arm maze was used to measure the spatial learning and memory abilities of the rat, including working memory errors (WME) and reference memory errors (RME). Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of BrdU, an indicator of neuronal proliferation, in the hippocampal gyrus of rats. The mRNA and protein expressions of TRKB, PI3K, AKT, P-AKT, and IGF2 in the PI3K-AKT-CREB signaling pathway in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of the rats were determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Western blotting methods. Results: Compared to the sham group, the spatial memory ability of rats with composited Aβ was decreased, the number of WME and RME (P < 0.01) was increased, the expression of BrdU protein (P < 0.01) in the hippocampal gyrus was reduced, the mRNA and protein expression levels of TRKB, AKT, and IGF2 (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex were lowered, and the mRNA expression level of PI3K (P < 0.01) in the cerebral cortex and the protein expression level of PI3K (P < 0.01) in the hippocampus were augmented. However, compared to the model group, the three-doses of SSF improved memory disorder induced by composited Aβ, reduced the number of WME and RME, increased the expression of BrdU protein in the hippocampal gyrus, and differently regulated the mRNA and protein expressions in composited Aβ rats. Conclusions: SSF improved memory impairment and neurogenesis disorder induced by composited Aβ in rats by activating the PI3K-AKT-CREB signaling pathway and up-regulating the mRNA and protein expressions of TRKB, PI3K, AKT, CREB, and IGF2.

scholarly journals Curcumin Attenuates Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress-Induced Depressive-Like Behaviors via Restoring Changes in Oxidative Stress and the Activation of Nrf2 Signaling Pathway in Rats

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Dehua Liao ◽  
Chuanfeng Lv ◽  
Lizhi Cao ◽  
Dunwu Yao ◽  
Yi Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Antidepressant Effect ◽  
Mild Stress ◽  
Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress ◽  
Spine Density ◽  
Related Protein ◽  
Stress Markers ◽  
Dendritic Length ◽  
Nrf2 Signaling Pathway

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that oxidative stress is associated with depression. Our present study aimed at investigating the antidepressant effect and the possible mechanisms of curcumin (CUR) in chronic unpredictable mild stress- (CUMS-) induced depression model in rats. After exposure to CUMS for four weeks, the rats showed depressive-like behavior, and the depressive-like behaviors in CUMS-treated rats were successfully corrected after administration of CUR. In addition, CUR could effectively decrease protein expression of oxidative stress markers (Nox2, 4-HNE, and MDA) and increase the activity of CAT. CUR treatment also reversed CUMS-induced inhibition of Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway, along with increasing the mRNA expression of NQO-1 and HO-1. Furthermore, the supplementation of CUR also increased the ratio of pCREB/CREB and synaptic-related protein (BDNF, PSD-95, and synaptophysin). In addition, CUR could effectively reverse CUMS-induced reduction of spine density and total dendritic length. In conclusion, the study revealed that CUR relieves depressive-like state through the mitigation of oxidative stress and the activation of Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway.

scholarly journals Helicid Reverses the Effect of Overexpressing NCALD, Which Blocks the sGC/cGMP/PKG Signaling Pathway in the CUMS-Induced Rat Model

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Xiao-Tong Zhang ◽  
Yuan Zhang ◽  
Yuan-Xiang Zhang ◽  
Zhen-Yi Jiang ◽  
Hui Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Western Blotting ◽  
Rat Model ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Mild Stress ◽  
Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress ◽  
Adeno Associated Virus ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Antidepressant Effects

Background. Increasing evidence has shown that apoptosis in the hippocampus is closely related to depressive-like behavior. We previously reported that helicid had good antidepressant activities, which manifested as the alleviation of depression-like behaviors and the reversal of the high expression of neurocalcin delta (NCALD) in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rats. The aim of this study was, therefore, to characterize the antidepressant-like effects and underlying mechanism of helicid on CUMS rats by silencing NCALD and using rescue experiments. Methods. We developed the CUMS rat model using CUMS stimulation from week 0 to week 6. The rats were treated with helicid, or NCALD silenced, then we overexpressed NCALD using adeno-associated virus. We also measured the protein levels of sGCα1, sGCβ1, PKG1/2, and cleaved caspase-3 in hippocampal tissues using western blotting and measured cGMP using an ELISA. Results. Treating CUMS rats by silencing NCALD or by the administration of helicid improved the depressive-like behavior. The levels of proteins, including sGC, PKG, cleaved caspase-3, and cGMP, in hippocampus all decreased. NCALD overexpression reversed these decreases and reversed the alleviation of depression-like behaviors in CUMS rats. Limitation. We only detected the antidepressant effects of helicid in the hippocampus; therefore, other parts of brain should also be studied. Conclusions. Inhibition of NCALD, as well as helicid administration, alleviated antidepressant-like behavior by regulating the expressions of apoptotic cytokines and the sGC/cGMP/PKG signaling pathway. Overexpressing NCALD reversed the amelioration effects of silenced NCALD and helicid administration.

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