Effects of Chinese Herbs on Enkaphalin mRNA and Prodynorphin mRNA Gene Expression in Rat Hippocampus with Chronic Immobilization Stress / 中华中医药杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of Chinese herbs in resisting chronic immobilization stress.Methods: The rat models of chronic immobilization stress were copied by merely constraint.Total RNA in hippocampus was extracted and primers of enkaphalin or prodynorphin were respectively added for RT-PCR reaction.Then the expressions of enkaphalin and prodynorphin in hippocampus were compared. Results: Enkaphalin mRNA and prodynorphin mRNA expressions in hippocampus markedly increased in chronic immobilization stress and the longer the more evident.Xiaoyao powder as well as decoction of four mild drugs were able to decrease the gene expression of enkaphalin mRNA,and all the three recipes were able to decrease the gene expression of prodynorphin mRNA,and the effect of Xiaoyao powder was obviously outweigh to Jinkuishenqi pill.Conclusion: enkaphalin and prodynorphin both participated in the regulation of hippocampus on stress;the regulation of endogenous opium system was one of the most important ways of the three recipes in accommodating stress.