ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of chaihu-shugan-san ( CSS) on the behaviors and Notch1 signal pathway in depression model rats. Methods Thirty-two SD rats with similar behavioral scores were divided into control group (CON),model group (CUMS),positive control group (FLU) and interven-tion group (CSS).The depression model was established by stimulating with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS),and the behaviors evaluation was assessed by sugar water consumption and forced depression.Im-munofluorescence was used to detect the proliferation of hippocampus neurons in rats,at the same time,real- time PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of each factor (Notch1,Hes1,Hes5 and Jagged1) of Notch1 signal pathway respectively. Results Compared with CON group,the percentage of sugar water preference and swimming length of rats decreased significantly in CUMS group (P＜0.05 and P＜0.01).Compared with CUMS group,the percentage of sugar water preference and swimming length of rats increased significantly in CSS group(P＜0.05).Compared with CON group,there was a significant increase in the inactivity length of rats between CUMS group,FLU group and CSS group,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01).Compared with CUMS group,the swimming length of rats in CSS group was significantly reduced,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01).Compared with CON group((750.00±27.51)/mm2),the number of BrdU positive cells in the substratum or granulocyte lay-er of the hippocampus dentate gyrus of rats in CUMS group ((338.75±29.61)/mm2),FLU group ((545.00 ±17.73)/mm2) and CSS group ((529.38±13.74)/mm2) was significantly reduced(P＜0.01).Compared with CUMS group ((338.75±29.61)/mm2),there was a significant increase in the number of BrdU positive cells in the substratum or granulocyte layer of the hippocampus dentate gyrus of rats in CSS group ((529.38 ±13.74)/mm2),and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01).Compared with CON group,the mRNA and protein expression levels of Notch1,Hes1,Hes5,and Jagged1 in the hippocampus of rats in CUMS group were significantly reduced(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Compared with CUMS group,the mRNA and protein ex-pression levels of Notch1,Hes1,Hes5 and Jagged1 in the hippocampus of rats in FLU group and CSS group were significantly increased,and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). Conclu-sion Notch1 signal pathway may be related to the obstacle during the hippocampus nerve regenerating in the model rat under chronic unpredictable mild stress.CSS may play an anti-depressant role by regulating Notchl to improve hippocampus nerve regeneration.