Effect of Paeoniae Alba Radix extract on 5-HT3 receptor pathway in primarily cultured rat hippocampal neurons / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the effects of Paeoniae Alba Radix extracts (PAREs) on 5-HT3R mediated ion channels in primarily cultured hippocampal neurons of rats with depression. Methods: An animal model of depression was successfully developed and evaluated in rats. PARE was used for drug intervention. Serum in each group was collected, inactivated and then added into the primary hippocampal neurons for 24 h. The protein expression levels of 5-HT3AR and 5-HT3BR in the neurons of each group were examined by Western blotting (WB). The 5-HT3R channel current was recorded by a whole-cell patch clamp. Results: Compared with normal rats, the rats with depression had significantly reduction in total distance of the open-field test (OFT) and sucrose preference ratio (P < 0.01). The hippocampal neurons treated with serum of depressive rats had significantly increased protein expression of 5-HT3AR and 5-HT3BR (P < 0.05) and current density value (P < 0.05) compared to those treated with normal rat serum. Compared with the depressive rats, the rats treated with PARE and fluoxetine had significantly increased OFT (P < 0.05) and sucrose preference ratio (P < 0.01). The primary hippocampal neurons cultured with serum from PARE and fluoxetine-treated rats had significantly reduction in protein expression of 5-HT3AR and 5-HT3BR (P < 0.05, 0.01, 0.001) and current density value (P < 0.01). Conclusion: PARE can reduce the 5-HT3R ion channel current density in the rats with depression. This may be its central mechanism in treating depression.