우울증(憂鬱症) 모델 흰쥐에 대한 조위승청탕(調胃升淸湯)과 St. John's Wort의 항우울효과(抗憂鬱效果)에 관한 비교 연구

The effects of Jowiseungcheongtang versus St. John's wort in the chronic mild stress model of depression in rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Jowiseungcheongtang compared with St. John's wort in the chronic mild stress(CMS) animal model of depression. Wistar rats were used for this study. The subjects were divided into 4 groups (Naive group: without CMS procedure, CMS-vehicle: water was administered during CMS procedure, CMS-Jowiseungcheongtang: Jowiseungcheongtang was administered after 5 weeks of CMS procedure, CMS-St. John's wort: St. John's wort was administered after 5 weeks of CMS procedure) During 9 weeks of CMS procedure, The change of the consumption of sucrose and the changes of weights were measured. After CMS procedure, Morris water maze test, open field test, elevated plus maze test and Western blotting were measured. The results were as follows. 1. The consumption of sucrose solution was significantly reversed in Jowiseungcheongtang group and relatively reversed in St. John's Wort group at 7 week. 2. In open field test, Neither Jowiseungcheongtang nor St. John's wort group showed statistically significant change of exploratory activity. In EPM test, St. John's Wort group showed significant decrease of total arm entry in comparison with Naive group. And Jowiseungcheongtang group was showed no significant change. 3. In Morris water maze test, St. John's Wort group showed significant increase in escape latency of the last Morris water maze trial. And in water maze probe test, there was no significant change. 4. St. John's Wort group showed relative increase in LP1 division of 5HT1A receptor compared with Naive group. Both St. John's Wort and Jowiseungcheongtang group showed relative increase in P2 division of GluRl compared with Naive group. These results suggest that Jowiseungcheongtang is as effective as St. John's Wort in the treatment of depression.