Effects of Yulangsan polysaccharide on monoamine neurotransmitters, adenylate cyclase activity and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in a mouse model of depression induced by unpredictable chronic mild stress

• Published in: Neural regeneration research 2012-01, Vol.7 (3), p.191-196
• Main Authors: Liang, Shuang, Huang, Renbin, Lin, Xing, Huang, Jianchun, Huang, Zhongshi, Liu, Huagang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Research and Report: Traditional Chinese Medicine and Neuroregeneration; 单胺类神经递质; 多糖; 小鼠模型; 抑郁症; 环化; 脑源性神经营养因子; 腺苷酸; 酶活性
• ISSN: 1673-5374; 1876-7958
• DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2012.03.006

The present study established a mouse model of depression induced by unpredictable chronic mild stress. The model mice were treated with Yulangsan polysaccharide （YLSPS; 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg） for 21 days, and compared with fluoxetine-treated and normal control groups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, radioimmunity and immunohistochemical staining showed that following treatment with YLSPS （300 and 600 mg/kg）, monoamine neurotransmitter levels, prefrontal cortex adenylate cyclase activity and hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression were significantly elevated, and depression-like behaviors were improved. Open-field and novelty-suppressed feeding tests showed that mouse activity levels were increased and feeding latency was shortened following treatment. Our results indicate that YLSPS inhibits depression by upregulating monoamine neurotransmitters, prefrontal cortex adenylate cyclase activity and hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression.