Effects of berberine on lipopolysaccharide induced depressive-like behavior and brain neuroinflammation in mice / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effects of berberine on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced depressive-like behavior and changes of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of mice.Methods Fifty male Kunming adult mice were randomly divided into control group,LPS group,low dosage berberine group,middle dosage berberine group and high dosage berberine group (n=10 per group).The mice in the later three groups were respectively administrated 25,50 and 100mg/kg berberine by gavage for 7 days.Then,the later four groups mice were injected LPS intraperitoneally(0.83 mg/kg).Twenty-four hours after LPS injection,the depressive like behavior were observed and level of IL-1β and TNF-α in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were measured.Results Compared with control group (sucrose intake(75.7 ± 9.0) ％,immobility time(101.2 ± 29.2) s),the sucrose intake of LPS group((41.0±14.8) ％) reduced(t=5.52,P＜0.01) and the immobility time ((158.7±31.1) s) in forced swimming test increased(t=4.34,P＜0.01).The 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg berberine intragastric administration significantly improved sucrose preference ((67.1 ± 15.4) ％ and (72.0± 13.1) ％) compared with that in LPS group (t=4.15,P＜0.01;t=4.93,P＜0.01));and decreased immobility time in forced swimming test ((119.4±26.3) s and (109.7±21.9)s) compared with that in LPS group((t=2.44,P＜ 0.05;t=3.69,P＜0.01)).The level of IL-1β and TNF-α in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex significantly increased in LPS group compared with those in control group,while significantly decreased in low,middle and high dosages berberine injected mice compared with those in LPS group.Conclusion Berberine can improve LPS induced depressive-like behavior in mice,and these effects may correlate with decreased level of IL-1β and TNF-α in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.