Peony glycosides reverse the effects of corticosterone on behavior and brain BDNF expression in rats

• Published in: Behavioural brain research 2012-02, Vol.227 (1), p.305-309
• Main Authors: Mao, Qing-Qiu, Huang, Zhen, Ip, Siu-Po, Xian, Yan-Fang, Che, Chun-Tao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Antidepressant; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation - pharmacology; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Brain - drug effects; Brain - metabolism; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - metabolism; Corticosterone; Corticosterone - blood; Corticosterone - toxicity; Depression - chemically induced; Depression - drug therapy; Depression - pathology; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Interactions; Fluoxetine - pharmacology; Food Preferences - drug effects; Glycosides - therapeutic use; Immobility Response, Tonic - drug effects; Male; Paeonia - chemistry; Peony glycosides; Phytotherapy - methods; Rat; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sucrose - administration & dosage; Sweetening Agents - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0166-4328; 1872-7549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.11.016

► A rat model of depression is developed by exogenous CORT administration. ► TGP reverses depressive-like behavior in CORT-treated rats. ► TGP increases BDNF protein levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of CORT-treated rats. Repeated injections of corticosterone (CORT) induce the dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, resulting in depressive-like behavior. This study aimed to examine the antidepressant-like effect and the possible mechanisms of total glycosides of peony (TGP) in the CORT-induced depression model in rats. The results showed that the 3-week CORT injections induced the significant increase in serum CORT levels in rats. Repeated CORT injections also caused depression-like behavior in rats, as indicated by the significant decrease in sucrose consumption and increase in immobility time in the forced swim test. Moreover, it was found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex were significantly decreased in CORT-treated rats. Treatment of the rats with TGP significantly suppressed the depression-like behavior and increased brain BDNF levels in CORT-treated rats. The results suggest that TGP produces an antidepressant-like effect in CORT-treated rats, which is possibly mediated by increasing BDNF expression in the hippocampus and frontal cortex.