ABSTRACT
Aim To observe the effects of icariin on depressive-like behavior in prenatally stressed offsprings and explore its mechanism.Methods The model of depression was established by prenatal restraint stress on late pregnant mother, then male offspring rats were randomly divided into five groups of eight: Control, PS model, Saline group(NS), ICA(80 mg·kg-1), ICA(40 mg·kg-1).The effects of icariin on PS-induced depressive-like behaviors in male offsprings were examined by forced swimming test(FST) and open-field test(OFT).Furthermore, the protein expressions of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors(I mGluRs) and excitatory amino acid transporter 2(EAAT2) in prefrontal cortex were detected by Western blot.Results PS group exhibited depressive-like behaviors with decreased struggling time(P<0.01) and center crossing numbers(P<0.05) compared to CON, with increased protein expressions of group I mGluRs(P<0.01,P<0.05) and decreased EAAT2(P<0.05) in prefrontal cortex compared to CON.Treatment with icariin(80 mg·kg-1, 40 mg·kg-1)significantly increased struggling time(P<0.05,P<0.01) and center crossing numbers(P<0.05) in PS-exposed male offspring rats.Treatment with icariin markedly modulated the protein levels of mGluR1, mGluR5 and EAAT2 in prefrontal cortex.Conclusion Icariin has significant antidepressant effects in prenatally stressed rats, and the mechanism might be associated with the modulation of Ⅰ mGluRs.