Effects Of Compound Tribuloside On Behavior And CNTF Expression And Neurogenesis In Hippocampus Of Depression Model Rats

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of compound tribuloside on CNTF, CNTFRa and the dentate granule cell neurogenesis and differentiation in hippocampus of chronic stressed depression rat, and to explore the possible mechanisms related to the pathogenesis of depression and the antidepressant of compound tribuloside.METHODS: (1) The chronic stressed depression rats were established by chronic unpredictable mild stress and separation after 21 days. The Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into five groups including normal control group, model control group, fluoxetine group, BAI-SONG tablet group and compound tribuloside group (CT group). (2) The behaviors of rats were evaluated by open-field test, and the consumption of saccharose, emotional behavior test, body weight, and appetite were observed too. (3) The distribution and expression of CNTF and CNTFRa in the hippocampus of rats in different groups were investigated with immuohistochemistry and Western-blot. (4) The in-situ hybridization and reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) were employed to detect the expression of CNTF mRNA and CNTFRα mRNA in the hippocampus of rats in different groups. (5) After intraperitoneal injection of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), the BrdU-labled and double-staining immunofluorescence for NeuN/BrdU or BrdU/S-100β cells in the dentate gyrus were observed.RESULTS: (1) Compared with normal control, the body weight, appetite, the consumption of saccharose of rats in model group decreased remarkably and Squares crossed, rears and grooming reduced while central stopped increased in open-field test (p<0.05). After 21 days of antidepressant treatment, all the records of the behavioral testing of CT groups significantly ameliorated (p<0.05). (2)The expressions of CNTF and CNTFRα protein in hippocampus CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus of rats in model group were significant lower than that in the normal control (P<0.01). While the expressions of CNTF and CNTFRα protein in the same region in CT group were marked higher than that in model group (P<0.01). (3)The level of CNTF mRNA and CNTFRα mRNA in...