Effects of Yueju Pill on Depressive Behavior,Functional Dyspepsia and PACAP/PAC1-R Expression in CUMS Mice
OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of Yueju Pill on depression and gastrointestinal function in depressed co-morbid functional dyspepsia mice.METHODS C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group,model group,Yueju Pill low-dose group,Yueju Pill high-dose group and positive drug group.A co-morbidity model was constructed using chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS),and the mice were assessed for depression-like behaviour and neuronal damage by behavioural tests and Nissl staining;gastrointestinal function was assessed by HE staining of gastric and intestinal tissues,gastric emptying rate,and small intestinal propul-sive rate;PACAP,VIP,IL-6,TNF-α,and BDNF expression were detected by ELISA;PAC1-R,Vipr1,and Vipr2 protein expres-sion were detected by protein immunoblotting.RESULTS Mice in the model group showed depression-like behaviour,reduced num-ber of hippocampal nidus,slowed gastrointestinal motility,elevated serum inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α(P<0.05,P<0.01),and reduced expression of PACAP,VIP,and BDNF(P<0.05,P<0.01),The PAC1-R,VPAC1-R,VPAC2-R expression de-creased in the hippocampus and gastric sinus,duodenal tissue(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the low and high dose groups of Yueju Pill improved the above indexes except for Vipr1 and Vipr2(P<0.05,P<0.01).CONCLUSION Yueju Pill can reduce inflammatory factors through PACAP/PAC1-R,increase the level of BDNF,and improve the depression-like behaviour and gastrointestinal dysfunction in CUMS mice.