ABSTRACT
Objective: To observe the influence of Kaixin Powder on ethology, content of 5-HT in the hippocampus, expression of mRNA, and protein in 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors in the hippocampus of depressed rats induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank, model, Trazodone, and Kaixin Powder groups, six rats in each group. In addition to the blank control group, other groups were established the depression model induced by CUMS combined with isolated feeding. At the same time, Trazodone group and Kaixin Powder group were treated with corresponding drugs for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks of administration, the rats were sacrificed, and a series of indexes were measured such as the contents of 5-HT, mRNA expression levels of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors, protein expression levels of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors, and so on. Results: A series of indexes in the model group were decreased significantly such as the body weight growth, the sugar water intake, the score of Open Field Test, the content of 5-HT in the hippocampus, expression of mRNA, and protein in 5-HT1A receptor, while the expression of mRNA and protein in 5-HT2A receptor were increased significantly. Compared with the model group, the indexes were ameliorated in Trazodone and Kaixin Powder groups. Kaixin Powder is better than Trazodone in decreasing the level of protein in 5-HT2A receptor. Conclusion: The result indicated that the depression performance of depressed rats induced by CUMS can be ameliorated by Kaixin Powder, and the mechanism maybe concerned with increasing the contents of 5-HT, exciting 5-HT1A receptor, and antagonising 5-HT2A receptor.