Effect of Longmu Guizhi Decoction and Its Disassembled Prescription on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Rats with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the regulatory effect of Longmu Guizhi decoction and its decomposed formula on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis of spontsneously hyoertensive rats (SHR) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), so as to explain the scientific connotation of compound compatibility. Method:Young male SHR rats were randomly divided into saline control group, methylphenidate hydrochloride group(2 mg·kg-1), Longmu Guizhi decoction group(30 g·kg-1), Guizhi+ Longgu Muli decoction group(21 g·kg-1), Ganmai Dazaotang group(9.24 g·kg-1) and Polygalae Radix-Acori Tatarinowii Rhizome group(4.62 g·kg-1). The corresponding drugs were intragastrically administered for 14 days. Serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and mRNA expressions of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), CRH in hypothalamus and GR, MR in hippocampus were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) method. Result:Serum CORT, ACTH and CRH, GR and CRH mRNA expressions of hypothalamus, GR and MR mRNA expressions of hippocampus in methylphenidate hydrochloride group and Longmu Guizhi decoction group were significantly higher than those of saline control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). MR mRNA expression of hypothalamus in Longmu Guizhi decoction group was significantly higher than that in the saline control group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and GR expression in hippocampus was significantly higher than that in the methylphenidate hydrochloride group (P<0.01). The dissection study showed that the levels of serum ACTH and CRH, MR mRNA, GR and CRH mRNA of hypothalamus, GR and MR mRNA of hippocampus in Guizhi+ Longgu Muli decoction group and Ganmai Dazaotang group were significantly higher than those in saline control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The serum CORT level of Guizhi+ Longgu Muli decoction group was higher than that of normal saline group (P<0.01). The serum ACTH level of Polygalae Radix-Acori Tatarinowii Rhizome pair was significantly higher than that in saline control group(P<0.05). Conclusion:The mechanism of Longmu Guizhi decoction in treating ADHD is related to increase of the levels of CORT, ACTH and CRH in serum and the expressions of MR, GR, CRH in hypothalamus and GR and MR in hippocampus, so as to regulate the function of HPA axis. The order of the effect degree of each decomposition group on HPA axis function from high to low was Guizhi+ Longgu Muli decoction>Ganmai Dazao decoction>Polygalae Radix-Acori Tatarinowii Rhizome pair drug.