Effects and mechanisms of an aqueous extract of Morinda officinalis How on chronic stress-induced depression-like behavior in rats
Objective To explore the antidepressant effect and mechanism of an aqueous extract of Morinda officinalis How.Methods Thirty-six SD rats were randomly assigned to the control group,model group,the fluoxetine hydrochloride group and low,medium,and high dose groups of aqueous extract of Morinda officinalis How.A chronic unpredictable stress method was used to create a model which was administered for 28 days.Behavioral analysis was conducted to evaluate the antidepressant effect of the aqueous extract of Morinda officinalis How.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the morphology of hippocampal neurons in rats while immunohistochemistry staining was adopted to detect the expression levels of inflammasome NLRP3 and microglial marker protein Iba-1.Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of BDNF,PI3K,Akt,and GSK3β.Results After medication,the behavior and physiology of depressed rats were significantly improved.The Sugar-water preference ratio was significantly increased(P＜0.01)and the forced swimming immobility time was significantly shortened(P＜0.05).The morphology of neurons in the CA3 area of the rat hippocampus was improved.The protein expressions of NLRP3 and Iba-1 were reduced.The expression levels of BDNF,PI3K,p-PI3K,Akt,and p-Akt proteins were up-regulated while the those of GSK3β and p-GSK3β proteins were down-regulated.Conclusion The aqueous extract of Morinda officinalis How can improve the depression-like behavior induced by chronic stimulation in rats,and its antidepressant mechanism may be related to improving neuronal morphology,inhibiting hippocampal inflammatory response and regulating BDNF/PI3K/Akt/GSK3β pathway.
aqueous extract of Morinda officinalis Howratchronic unpredictable mild stimulationantidepressantsinflammation
国家科技期刊平台
NSTL
万方数据
