Effects Of Rosemary On Neuroethology And Expression Of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Protein In Hippocampus Of PSD Rats

ObjectiveTo observe the influence of rosemary on neuroethology and expression ofbrain-derived neurotrophic factor protein in hippocampus in post-strokedepression(PSD)rats.MethodsThe focal cerebral ischemia model was set up by blocking the middle cerebral artery(MCAO) of male Sprague-Dawley rats(250-300g).Then the model rats were separatelyraised and put into chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) to induce the PSD model.During the adaptation period, the baseline sucrose preference test and open-fieldtest(OFT) scores were employed.Thirty rats with similar behavioral test scores weredivided into control group,rosemary group and venlafaxine group.The control groupwere intraperitoneally injected with2ml saline each day.1ml of100%pure rosemaryessential oils was vaporized in the container twice daily and30min each time to thePSD rats of rosemary group.The rats of venlafaxine group were ntraperitoneallyinjected with venlafaxine10mg/Kg/d.The rats were examined dynamically at the7th,14th,28th days by OFT and sucrose consumption test.Western-blot methods wereused to test the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein inhippocampus.Result1.The three groups did not show any difference in the baseline sucrose preference testand OFT scores.2.The sucrose preference test and OFT scores showed a greater increase in the rosemary group(24.30±2.00ml/44.2±1.2/14.2±0.8) and the venlafaxine group(29.30±1.50ml/47.9±1.6/16.4±0.7) after experiment than the contolgroup(P<0.01).Compared to the bahavioral test scores of rosemary group,scores ofvenlafaxine group were higher improved(P<0.01).3.BDNF protein expression levels in the hippocampus were significantly upregulatedin the rosemary group and the venlafaxine group(P<0.01).There were significantdifference between the rosemary group and the venlafaxine group(P<0.01).ConclusionRosemary can improve the behavior abnormality in PSD rats.Rosemary may havesome antidepressant effects by enhance the protein expression of BDNF in PSD ratshippocampus.