Effects of astragalus polysaccharide on hippocampal NF-κB signaling in rats with depressive behaviors / 中国药理学通报

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.