The antidepressant-like effects of Chaihu Shugan San: Dependent on the hippocampal BDNF-TrkB-ERK/Akt signaling activation in perimenopausal depression-like rats

Chen XQ, Li CF, Chen SJ, Liang WN, Wang M, Wang SS, Dong SQ, Yi LT, Li CD · Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy · 2018 September

DOI 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.04.035

Objective

To investigate whether brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling is required for the antidepressant-like effects of Chaihu Shugan San in perimenopausal depressive-like rats.

Conclusions

The present results demonstrate that activation of the hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor-tropomyosin receptor kinase B-extracellular signal-regulated kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway and hippocampal neurogenesis are required for the antidepressant-like effects of Chaihu Shugan San on the depressive-like state during perimenopause.

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Insights

Chaihu Shugan San, a traditional Chinese medicine formula, can treat perimenopausal depression by activating the brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling pathway and promoting neurogenesis.

The research involved the use of Chaihu Shugan San (CSS) on perimenopausal rats exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress to treat their depressive-like behavior. The method focused on the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling in achieving the antidepressant-like effects of CSS. The antagonist used in the study was TrkB antagonist K252, which was found to affect behavioral improvement and block the activation of BDNF-TrkB signaling. In terms of results, it was found that CSS reversed depressive-like behaviors and diminished the reduction of BDNF in the hippocampus of the stressed perimenopausal rats. The antagonistic effect of K252 resulted in significant inhibition of downstream targets of BDNF signaling, such as the ERK and Akt pathways. Simultaneously, CSS displayed a capacity for raising hippocampal neurogenesis, which K252a entirely prevented. Therefore, the BDNF-TrkB-ERK/Akt signaling pathway's activation in the hippocampus is crucial for the antidepressant-like effects of CSS in perimenopause. The research also showed that neurogenesis is necessary for the impact of antidepressants in aging perimenopausal animals.