Zhu Xiao-Hong, Zhang Jia-Li, Li De-Hua, Wang Zhong-Qiang, Liu Yan-Ku, Fan Jing-Xian, Jiang Shang-Ren, Li Xin-Ran, He Xian-Yuan
College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Discipline of Pediatrics, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Heliyon. 2024 Mar 1;10(5):e26895. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26895. eCollection 2024 Mar 15.
Hua is a traditional Chinese medicinal food herb which can regulate the liver and Qi, nourish the heart and blood, moisten the lungs and nourish the kidneys with the potential to treat emotional diseases. However, few studies have explored the effects of Hua on postpartum depression. Therefore, we investigated whether processed Hua could improve postpartum depression in rat models by regulating monoamines and hormones.
Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into normal control (0.9%Nacl), Sham operation (0.9%Nacl), postpartum depression model (0.9%Nacl), fluoxetine (2.5 mg/kg Fluoxetine), low, medium and high dose of processed Hua (2.5 g/kg, 5 g/kg, 10 g/kg) groups. Rats in these groups received drug intervention, and then subjected to Open-field test and Forced swimming test. Brain tissues and serum samples were collected and used to quantify levels of monoamines, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and serum Estradiol. The status of neuronal cells in hippocampus 1 region was examined through hematoxylin-eosin staining, whereas expression of estrogen receptor α and β was detected by immunohistochemistry.
Rats in the model group showed decreased mobility time, the disorder of neuronal cells in hippocampus 1 area, and decreased concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine and dopamine in brain tissue, norepinephrine and estradiol in serum as well as estrogen receptor α and β expression. They also exhibited increased adrenocorticotropic hormone, corticosterone and corticotropin releasing hormone in serum. However, the treatment with processed Hua or fluoxetine reversed the above abnormalities.
The H group showed significant improvement in postpartum depression in rats, and processed Hua can be used as a developing drug for the prevention or treatment of depression.
花是一种传统的药食同源草本植物，具有疏肝理气、养心补血、润肺滋肾的功效，对情志病有潜在的治疗作用。然而，很少有研究探讨花对产后抑郁的影响。因此，我们研究了炮制后的花是否能通过调节单胺类物质和激素来改善大鼠模型中的产后抑郁。
将雌性Sprague-Dawley大鼠随机分为正常对照组（0.9%氯化钠）、假手术组（0.9%氯化钠）、产后抑郁模型组（0.9%氯化钠）、氟西汀组（2.5mg/kg氟西汀）、低、中、高剂量炮制花组（2.5g/kg、5g/kg、10g/kg）。这些组的大鼠接受药物干预，然后进行旷场试验和强迫游泳试验。收集脑组织和血清样本，用于量化单胺类物质、下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴和血清雌二醇的水平。通过苏木精-伊红染色检查海马1区神经元细胞的状态，而雌激素受体α和β的表达通过免疫组织化学检测。
模型组大鼠的活动时间减少，海马1区神经元细胞紊乱，脑组织中5-羟色胺和多巴胺浓度降低，血清中去甲肾上腺素、雌二醇浓度以及雌激素受体α和β表达降低。血清中促肾上腺皮质激素、皮质酮和促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素也升高。然而，用炮制花或氟西汀治疗可逆转上述异常。
炮制花组大鼠的产后抑郁症状有显著改善，炮制后的花可作为预防或治疗抑郁症的开发药物。
