Effects of Danggui-Shaoyao-San on depression- and anxiety-like behaviors of rats induced by experimental tooth movement.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of Danggui-Shaoyao-San (DSS) on depression- and anxiety-like behavior induced by experimental tooth movement (ETM) in rats.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into a sham group (n = 12; rats underwent all operation procedures, except placement of orthodontic forces, and received saline treatment), ETM group (n = 12; rats received saline treatment and ETM), and DETM group (n = 12; rats received DSS [dose: 150 mg/kg twice daily from preoperative day 5 to postoperative day 7] treatment and ETM). The vacuous chewing movement (VCM) test, open-field test, and elevated plus maze test were performed to assess the depression- and anxiety-like behaviors of the rats.

Results: DSS pretreatment significantly decreased the ETM-induced VCM time (P < 0.05, DETM vs. ETM), increased the ETM-induced time to the central area of experimental device during the 5 min open-field test (P < 0.05, DETM vs. ETM), and increased the ratio of time spent in the open arms of the 5 min elevated plus maze test induced by ETM (P < 0.01, DETM vs. ETM).

Conclusions: DSS pretreatment can restore the impaired abilities of rats caused by ETM-induced depression- and anxiety-like behavior.