Antidepressant effects of Jiaotai Pills based on NO-cGMP signal transduction pathway in chronic mild unpredictable stress depression rats / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of Jiaotai Pills on antidepressants in chronic mildly unpredictable stress (CUMS) depression model rats based on nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO-cGMP) signal transduction pathway. Methods The depression model of rats was induced by CUMS. On day 21 of the experiment, the rats in each group were treated with continuous ig administration for 14 d. The concentrations of NO and cGMP in hippocampus and plasma of rats were detected by Elisa method. The mRNA expression of NO synthase (including iNOS and nNOS) and NMDA receptor subunits NR1, NR2A, and NR2B in rat hippocampus was detected by RT-PCR. Results Compared with the control group, the levels of NO and cGMP in the hippocampus and plasma in the model group were significantly increased. The expressions of iNOS mRNA, nNOS mRNA, NR1 mRNA, NR2A mRNA, and NR2B mRNA in the hippocampus were significantly increased in the model group. Compared with the model group, Jiaotai Pills high, medium, and low dose and positive drug administration reversed the above changes. Conclusion Jiaotai Pills have the antidepressant effect on depression rats with CUMS by regulating NO-cGMP signal transduction pathway.