ABSTRACT
Aim To investigate the effects of astragalus polysaccharide ( APS ) on depressive behaviors and hippocampal NF-κB signaling in rats with depression. Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into con-trol group, depressive group, APS-low (200 mg·kg-1 ·d-1 ) group and APS-high ( 400 mg · kg-1 · d-1 ) group. Depressive behaviors were induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress ( CUMS) in rats. After trea-ted with APS, depressive behaviors were valuated by open field test, forced swim test and sucrose preference test. Levels of NF-κB p65, phosphorylated NF-κB p65 ( p-NF-κB p65 ) , phosphorylated IκBα ( p-IκBα) , NF-κB p65 DNA binding activity, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were measured to assess the activity of NF-κB sig-naling pathways. Results Compared to control group, rats in depressive group had less sucrose intake in su-crose preference and longer immobility time in forced swim test, as well as increased hippocampal NF-κB signaling activity. However, APS treatment dose-de-pendently alleviated depressive-like behaviors and in-hibited the activation of NF-κB signaling induced by UCMS. Conclusion The antidepressant effects of APS might be associated with the inhibition of hipp-ocampal NF-κB signaling pathway.
ABSTRACT
Aim To investigate the effects of astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on renal TGF-β1/Smads signa-ling pathway in rats with diabetes mellitus(DM). Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into nor-mal group,DM group,APS low dose (APS-low) group and APS high dose (APS-high) group. Rats in APS-low group and APS-high group respectively received 200 and 400 mg·kg-1·d-1APS for 8 weeks. Con-centrations of fasting blood-glucose(FBG),blood urea nitrogen and creatinine,as well as urinary kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and osteopontin (OPN) were measured. Levels of TGF-β1,Smad2,phosphorylated Smad2 (p-Smad2),Smad3,phosphorylated Smad3 (p-Smad3),Smad7,matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2,MMP-9,tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2 were investigated. Results Compared to control group,DM group had higher levels of FBG,blood urea nitrogen,creatinine KIM-1,OPN, TGF-β1,Smad2,p-Smad2,Smad3,p-Smad3,TIMP-1 and TIMP-2,but lower levels of Smad7,MMP-2 and MMP-9. APS significantly decreased the levels of FBG,blood urea nitrogen,creatinine KIM-1 and OPN, as well as inhibited the activity of TGF-β1/Smads sig-naling pathway. Conclusion The renoprotective effects of APS might be associated with the inhibition of TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway.