Antidepressant‐Like Effects and Cognitive Enhancement of Coadministration of Chaihu Shugan San and Fluoxetine: Dependent on the BDNF‐ERK‐CREB Signaling Pathway in the Hippocampus and Frontal Cortex

Yan L, Xu X, He Z, Wang S, Zhao L, Qiu J, Wang D, Gong Z, Qiu X, Huang H · BioMed Research International · 2020 January

DOI 10.1155/2020/2794263

Objective

To investigate the antidepressant effects of Chaihu Shugan San alone and in coadministration with fluoxetine, and to explore their potential involvement in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor/extracellular signal-regulated kinase/cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein signaling pathway in rats subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress.

Conclusions

Chaihu Shugan San and its coadministration with fluoxetine alleviated depressive symptoms and improved cognitive function in chronic unpredictable mild stress rats, potentially by regulating the brain-derived neurotrophic factor/extracellular signal-regulated kinase/cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein signaling pathway in the hippocampus and frontal cortex, with coadministration producing greater antidepressant effects than either treatment alone.

Critical Appraisal

Published research can offer valuable insights, but a paper’s conclusions may go beyond what its results support. Critical appraisal examines the methods, findings and limitations to clarify what can reasonably be concluded—and what remains uncertain.

This article has not yet been critically appraised by the Research Hub.

Learn more about Critical Appraisal

Insights

Chinese herbal medicine, Chaihu Shugan San (CSS), combined with Fluoxetine, heightens their antidepressant effects through regulation of the BDNF/ERK/CREB signaling pathway.

Researchers used 120 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, divided into seven groups, to understand the antidepressant effects of CSS and its coadministration with Fluoxetine. The chronic unpredictable mild stress rat model simulated depression. The teams carried out a series of tests including the sucrose preference test, forced swimming test, open-field test, and Y-maze test to evaluate depression-like behavior and cognitive function. The influence of CSS and its coadministration with Fluoxetine on BDNF mRNA, ERK mRNA, CREB mRNA, BDNF, p-ERK/ERK, and p-CREB/CREB levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex were then assessed via Western blot and RT-PCR. The findings indicate that CSS, in conjunction with Fluoxetine, ameliorates depressive symptoms and enhances cognitive function in stressed rats. Both CSS alone and in combination with Fluoxetine increased the expression of several neural markers in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. The study suggests that the bolstered antidepressant effect of the combined treatment might be due to the modulation of the BDNF/ERK/CREB signaling pathway.