Studies On The Action Mechanism Of The Antidepressant Effect Of [Quercetin 3-O-apiosy1(1â†'2)] -rhamnosy1(1â†'6)-glucoside

Aim To study the action mechanism of an new antidepressant [quercetin 3-O-apiosyl(1→2) ] -rhamnosyl(1→6)-glucoside(CTN-986), a flavonoid monosomer from cottonseed.Methods (1) Firstly, using 5-HTP induced head-twitches model and a special 5-HT₁A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT induced hypothermia in mice, the antidepressant effect of CTN-986 was observed. (2) By using immunocytochemistry method, we observed the effect of CTN-986 on neurogenesis and on the level of BDNF in the dentate gyrus of hippocampus in chronically stressed mice. (3) We isolated and cultured neural progenitor cells, and identified the cells with immunocytochemistry method. By using MTT assay and 3H-thymidine incorporation assay, the effect of CTN-986 on neural progenitor cells proliferation was observed.Results (1) CTN-986 could increase the head-twitches induced by 5-HTP, which indicated CTN-986 had an antidepressant effect, and the effect was related to the up-regulation of 5-HT transmission system. CTN-986 could induce hypothermia in mice which could be enhanced by 8-OH-DPAT and be attenuated by WAY _-100635, a special 5-HT₁A receptor antagonist. These results suggested that the antidepressant effect of CTN-986 was likely to depend on the activation of 5-HTia receptor. (2) The number of BrdU positive cells and the level of BDNF in hippocampal dentate gyrus were significantly decreased in chronically stressed mice for 21d, while chronic administration with IMI or CTN-986 could increase the number of BrdU positive cells and the level of BDNF. And after 21d, the BrdU positive cells could express the marker of mature neuron, neuron specific enolase(NSE). (3) The cells we cultured were shown...