Antidepressant-like effects of the ethanolic extract of Xiaobuxin-Tang, a traditional Chinese herbal prescription in animal models of depression.

Background: Xiaobuxin-Tang, a traditional Chinese herbal prescription recorded in a silk scroll unearthed from Mogao Caves of Dunhuang has been indicated that it can remit depressive disorder. The present study was designed to investigate its antidepressant effects in various animal depression models.

Methods: Xiaobuxin-Tang was extracted by 70% alcohol, and then three behavioral despair models and 5-Hydroxytryptophan (HTP)-induced head twitch response model were adopted to assess the antidepressant effects of the ethanolic extract of Xiaobuxin-Tang with the study on spontaneous motor activity.

Anxiolytic effect of agmatine in rats and mice.

In mammalian brain, agmatine is an endogenous neurotransmitter and/or neuromodulator. In this study, the anxiolytic action of agmatine (p.o.

Inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor function appears to be one of the common actions for antidepressants.

In order to explore the possible common action mechanisms of three kinds of classical antidepressants, inhibition of drugs on the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-Ca(2)-nitric oxide synthase (NOS) signal pathway was observed. With 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, classical antidepressants, desipramine (1, 10 microM), fluoxetine (0.625-10 microM) or moclobemide (2.

Moclobemide up-regulates proliferation of hippocampal progenitor cells in chronically stressed mice.

Aim: To explore the action mechanism of antidepressants.

Methods: The PC12 cell proliferation was detected by flow cytometry. The proliferation of hippocampal progenitor cells and level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured by immunohistochemistry.

Effect of gabapentin derivates on mechanical allodynia-like behaviour in a rat model of chronic sciatic constriction injury.

A series of mutual prodrugs derived from gabapentin, pregabalin, memantine, venlafaxine were synthesized and their pharmacological properties to treat neuropathic pain were investigated in a rat model of chronic sciatic nerve constriction injury (CCI). In vivo evaluation demonstrated that the mutual prodrugs 2002413A, 2002823A composed of two gabapentins, 2002414 composed of gabapentin and pregabalin were effective in reversal tactile allodynia in CCI rats. The prodrugs 2002413A, 2002414 had no significant influence on the rotarod activity.

Up-regulation of microtubule-associated protein 4 and drebrin A mRNA expression by antidepressants in rat hippocampus following chronic stress.

We used the differential display-polymerase chain reaction (DD-PCR) protocol to identify genes related to antidepressant effects. Rats were subjected to different kinds of stress for 20 days, and then the antidepressants desipramine and fluoxetine were administered (10 mg/kg per day, i.p.

Cytoprotective effect is one of common action pathways for antidepressants.

Aim: To explore the possible common action mechanism of antidepressants.

Methods: The cell viability was detected by MTT assay. The intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured by Fura 2-AM fluorescence labeling assay.

Muscarinic receptor activities potentiated by desensitization of nicotinic receptors in rat superior cervical ganglia.

Aim: The influences of desensitized nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) on the activities of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) were investigated in single cultured rat superior cervical ganglion.

Methods: Whole-cell patch-clamp techniques were used.

Results: An inward current was induced by nicotine 80 micromol/L in the sympathetic neurons and desensitized rapidly after the prolonged exposure to nicotine.

Antidepressant-like effect of agmatine and its possible mechanism.

In mammalian brain, agmatine is an endogenous neurotransmitter and/or neuromodulator, which is considered as an endogenous ligand for imidazoline receptors. In this study, the antidepressant-like action of agmatine administered p.o.

Inhibition of the oligosaccharides extracted from Morinda officinalis, a Chinese traditional herbal medicine, on the corticosterone induced apoptosis in PC12 cells.

The mechanisms of the antidepressant action of the oligosaccharides (P(6)) extracted from Morinda Officinalis were studied. By flow cytometry analysis, treatment of PC12 cells with corticosterone (Cort) induced apoptosis in a concentration and time dependent manner. The highest percentage of apoptotic cells accumulated to 27.

Desipramine antagonized corticosterone-induced apoptosis in cultured PC12 cells.

Aim: To study possible action mechanism of a tricyclic antidepressant, desipramine (DIM).

Methods: Cultured PC12 cells were exposed to corticosterone in the absence or presence of DIM for 5 d. Agarose gel electrophoresis, flow cytometry, and electron microscopy were used to detect the apoptosis of PC12 cells.

The effect of Morinda officinalis How, a Chinese traditional medicinal plant, on the DRL 72-s schedule in rats and the forced swimming test in mice.

The present study observed the antidepressant-like action of the medicinal plant Morinda officinalis in the differential reinforcement of low rate 72-s (DRL 72-s) schedule, a behavioral screen selective and sensitive to antidepressant drugs, and the forced swimming test, a well-known animal model of depression. In the DRL 72-s schedule in rats, the plant extract (25-50 mg/kg), similar to clinically effective antidepressant drug desipramine (5-10 mg/kg), significantly reduced response rate and efficiency ratio while at the same time increasing reinforcement rate. In the forced swimming test in mice, the plant extract (50 mg/kg), like the effect of desipramine (20 mg/kg), also elicited a significant reduction in the duration of immobility.