Effect and mechanism of LW-AFC on chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced mood and cognition impairment of mice / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect and mechanisms of LW-AFC,a new formula derived from Liuwei Dihuang decoction,on chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)-induced mood and cogni-tion impairment in mice. METHODS C57BL/6J mice were randomly placed into seven groups (n=10)normal control group,CUMS group,Fluoxetine(10 mg·kg-1,once per day)group,Liuwei Dihuang de-coction group(LW,10 g·kg-1,once per day),and LW-AFC(0.8 g·kg-1,1.6 g·kg-1,3.2 g·kg-1,once per day) group. The stressed group was given CUMS for 4 weeks to set up a chronic multiple-stressed model.LW and LW-AFC was oral administered a week prior to CUMS and until the end of the study(a total of 35 d),while fluoxetine was administrated orally for 4 weeks.The anxiety behavior was analyzed using the open field test(OFT)and elevated plus maze test(EPM).The depression behavior was ana-lyzed using the sucrose preference test (SPT) and forced swimming test (FST). Spatial cognition was evaluated using Morris water maze (MWM) test and working memory was evaluated using new object recognition test(NORT). RESULTS CUMS for 28 d increased depressive-and anxiety-like behaviors. LW-AFC (1.6 g·kg-1) significantly increased the numbers of entries into the open arm and time in the open arm of CUMS mice (P<0.05). LW-AFC (3.2 g·kg-1) increased sucrose consumption and de-creased the immobility time of FST (P<0.01) of CUMS mice. The MWM test showed that spatial learning andmemory in CUMS mice were remarkably affected relative to controls,whereas LW-AFC(3.2 g·kg-1)im-proves cognitive functions(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The mood and theability of learning and memory of thestressed group can be affected after exposure to CUS.Oral administration of LW-AFC significant-ly improved CUMS-induced impairments of mood and cognition in mice.