RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Depression is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders. Endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) could replace damaged Hippocampal neurons in depression. This work was planned to evaluate Rhodiola rosea (Rr) extract possible role in stimulation of NSCs proliferation and in depression improvement. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty adult male albino rats were divided into three groups; control, untreated depressed model and Rr model. After depression induction by chronic mild stress, rats received Rr extract 1.5 g/kg/day for three weeks. The sucrose preference test (SP) was done before, after depression induction and 3 weeks after supplementation of Rr. The brain was removed and processed for H&E and immunohistochemical staining for caspase 3, glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Rr group revealed improved sucrose preference, increased undamaged neurons and decreased dark neurons. Moreover, Caspase 3 +ve cells were not detected, GFAP +ve cells increased and PCNA +ve cells were detected only in Rr group. CONCLUSIONS: This work points to the role of Rr in depression improvement and in stimulation of NSCs proliferation.