ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of Chinese medicine of replenishing the liver and kidney on the concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)in hippocampus and the expression of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2)in median raphe nuclei in perimenopausal depression model rats and to explore its mechanism.Methods The animal model was established by resecting the ovaries of female rats,then giving isolation-housing in combination with 21 days of chronic unexpected mild stress(CUMS).High performance liquid chromatogram-electrochemical detection(HPLC-ECD)were employed to measure 5-HT in hippocampus,the hemi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and fluorescence immunohistochemistry were employed to detect the relative expression of TPH2 mRNA and number of TPH2 immunoreactive neurons in median raphe nuclei.Results The concentration of 5-HT in hippocampus was increased in rats of the medicine group compared with that in the model group((2543.06±859.59)ng/g tissue,(1845.81±233.55)ng/g tissue,F=9.617,P＞0.05).RT-PCR showed that the relative expression of TPH2 mRNA in medicine group was much higher than that in model group ((1.282±0.158),(0.985±0.120),F=3.552,P＜0.05).Immunofluorescence showed that the number of TPH2 immunoreaetive neurons in raphe nuclei had statistical significance between medicine group and model group ((152.74±68.52),(74.12±38.01),F=7.939,P＜0.01).Conclusion Chinese medicine replenishing liver and kidney have effects of improving perimenopausal depression,increasing the expression of TPH2 in median raphe nuclei,which leads to enhance the synthesis of 5-HT in hippocampus might be one of its mechanisms.
ABSTRACT
Object To observe the effects of the flavonoids extracted from Cuscuta chinensis Lam. (FC) on the ovarian endocrine functions in female rats exposed to psychologic stress. Methods Sound, light and electricity were combined into a stressful stimulus to induce dysfunction on ovarian endocrine functions in female rats; to observe the effects of FC on the ovarian endocrine functions in female rats exposed to psychologic stress, by determining the changes of serum E 2, P and ascorbic acid levels in adrenal gland, and by weighing the pituitaries, ovaries and uteruses. Results FC increased the serum E 2, P and the weight of pituitaries, ovaries and uteruses obviously, but did not increase ascorbic acid levels in adrenal gland in female rats exposed to psychologic stress. Conclusion FC improves the ovarian endocrine functions in female rats.