• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.127-135
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• 2007

Objective : Investigation of the anti-stress effects of Sihosogansan Methods : Passive avoidance test(PAT) was performed after applying immobilization stress in water to rats. Also, forced swimming test(FST) was performed to another rats and after FST, the degree of Tyrosine Hydroxylase(TH) expression was measured with immunohistochemical method in the regions of locus coeruleus(LC) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Results : In the PAT after immobilization stress in water, response latency was significantly increased in the Sihosogansan(400mg/kg) group in comparison with the control group. In the FST, immobility was significantly decreased in the Sihosogansan groups (100mg/kg, 400mg/kg), comparing with the control group. Stress-induced TH increases were suppressed in the Sihosogansan groups (100mg/kg, 400mg/kg) at the LC and the VTA region respectively. Conclusion : Sihosogansan can improve memory ability of rats, reduce behavior of depression in rats, decrease TH-immunoreactive cells at the LC and VTA region in rat, and it may be concluded that Sihosogansan has significant effect in reducing stress.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.109-121
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• 2022

Objective : This study is conducted to investigate the effect of Astragali Radix on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) induced by the Single Proposed Stress(SPS). Methods : The experiment was conducted with five groups; SAL groups with only saline treatment, SPS group, SPS + ARX25 group, SPS + ARX50 group, and SPS + ARX100 group. After applying SPS, saline and ARX were administered for 14 days to identify the change of body weight, sucrose intake amount, and behavioral changes through Open Field Test(OFT) and Forced Swimming Test(FST). After the behavioral experiment, plasma corticosterone levels, serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay in medical prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) in the hippocampus was measured using Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction. Results : Weight change has significantly decreased in the SPS group compared to the SAL group(p<0.05). On day 14, the sucrose intake of rats has significantly increased in the SPS + ARX100 group compared to the SPS group(p<0.05). In OFT, the number of staying in the central space has significantly increased in the SPS + ARX100 group(p<0.01). In FST, immobility has significantly decreased in SPS + ARX50 group and SPS + ARX100 group(p<0.05). The concentration of serotonine, dopamine and BDNF expression has increased significantly in SPS + ARX100 group compared to SPS group(p<0.05) Conclusions : In the SPS-induced PTSD experiment, ARX increased sucrose intake and the numbers of crossing in the central zone space in OFT, decreased immobility time in FST, and increased concentration of serotonin, dopamine, and BDNF. It can be postulated that the ARX could be effective for the treatment of PTSD.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.280-320
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• 2023

Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the antidepressant effects of capsaicin in chronic depressive rats and elucidate the mechanism underlying its effects. Methods: Male Wistar rats (280~320 g, 8 weeks of age) were subjected to depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stresses. The rats were exposed to 8 kinds of stresses for 8 weeks. In the last 2 weeks, fluoxetine or capsaicin was injected subcutaneously. The dose of fluoxetine was 10 mg/kg (body weight), while the doses of capsaicin consisted of low (1 mg/kg), middle (5 mg/kg), and high (10 mg/kg). The forced swim test (FST) was conducted to evaluate the immobility time of rats. The immobility time indicates despair, one of symptoms of depression. The change of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) in the dorsal raphe was investigated using immunohistochemistry. In the hippocampus cornu ammonis (CA) 1 and 3, glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression was measured. Results: The immobility time in the FST was significantly lower (p < .05) in the low-dose (M = 32.40 ± 13.41 seconds) and middle-dose (M = 28.48 ± 19.57 seconds) groups than in the non-treated depressive rats (M = 90.19 ± 45.34 seconds). The amount of TPH in the dorsal raphe was significantly higher (p < .05) in the middle-dose (M = 249.17 ± 35.02) and high-dose (M = 251.0 ± 56.85) groups than in the non-treated depressive rats (M = 159.78 ± 41.16). However, GR expression in the hippocampus CA1 and CA3 did not show significant differences between the non-treated depressive rats and the capsaicin-injected rats. Conclusion: This study suggests that capsaicin produces an antidepressant-like effect on chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression in rats via the serotonin biosynthesis pathway.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.137-146
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• 2007

Objectives : Investigation of the anitstress effects of Lycii Radicis Cortex. Methods : Behavior was measured in PAT and FST after applying stress to rats. Also, TH expression-degree in the regions of VTA and LC was measured, respectively. Results : The memory was improved in the LH 50mg/kg treated group in the passive avoidance test(P<0.01). The duration of immobility in the forced swimming test was significantly decreased in the LR 50mg/kg and 400mg/kg treated groups(P<0.0l). Stress-induced TH increases were meaningfully suppressed in the LR 100mg/kg and 400mg/kg treated group(P<0.001). Conclusion : Lycii Radicis Cortes has the effect of memory improving and antidepressant.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.291-297
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• 2016

Cytisine (CYT), a partial agonist of ${\alpha}4{\beta}2-nicotinic$ receptors, has been used for antidepressant efficacy in several tests. Nicotinic receptors have been shown to be closely associated with depression. However, little is known about the effects of CYT on the depression. In the present study, a mouse model of depression, the unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS), was used to evaluate the activities of CYT. UCMS caused significant depression-like behaviors, as shown by the decrease of total distances in open field test, and the prolonged duration of immobility in tail suspension test and forced swimming test. Treatment with CYT for two weeks notably relieved the depression-like behaviors in the UCMS mice. Next, proteins related to depressive disorder in the brain region of hippocampus and amygdala were analyzed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of CYT. CYT significantly reversed the decreases of 5-HT1A, BDNF, and mTOR levels in the hippocampus and amygdala. These results imply that CYT may act as a potential anti-depressant in the animals under chronic stress.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2016

Purpose: Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and induces the release of glucocorticoids. Saccharin is 300 times sweeter than sucrose, but does not increase blood insulin levels. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of saccharin intake in restraint-induced stress response reduction in rats. Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats had stress induced by restraint for 2 hours/day for 1 week. Saccharin was provided in sufficient amounts to allow them to intake it voluntarily at 0.1% diluted in water. The Y-maze test and forced swim test (FST) were performed to evaluate cognitive function and the depressive behavior of the rats. The protein expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in hippocampal cornu ammonis (CA) 1 was investigated by using immunohistochemistry. Results: It was found that, the percentage of alternation in the Y-maze test was significantly (p<.01) higher in the Stress + saccharin group than in the Stress group. Immobility time in the FST was significantly (p<.01) lower in the Stress + saccharin group than in the Stress group. Also, the positive cells of GR in hippocampus CA1 were significantly (p<.05) lower in the Stress + saccharin group than in the Stress group. Conclusion: This study showed that there was an effect of saccharin intake in restraint-induced stress response reduction in rats.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.245-250
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• 2015

Silibinin, a natural flavonoid antioxidant isolated from extracts of the milk thistle herb, has recently been identified as having anti-hepatotoxic and anticancer properties. In this paper, we investigated the effects of silibinin on behavior and neuroplasticity in mice subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). After 5 consecutive weeks of CUMS, the mice were treated with silibinin (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg by oral gavage) for 3 consecutive weeks. The results showed that silibinin administration significantly alleviated the CUMS-induced depressive-like behavior, including the total number of squares crossed and the frequency of rearing in the open field test, the immobility time in the tail suspension test and the forced swimming test. Furthermore, silibinin treatment increased the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Our study provides new insight into the protective effects of silibinin on the depressive status of CUMS mice, specifically by improving neuroplasticity and neurotransmission.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.147-160
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• 2007

Objectives: This study is carried out to investigate the anti-stress effects of the sihoueokgantang in rats. Methods: we performed the passive avoidance test and the forced swimming test. The degrees of TH were also measured with immunohistochemical method in the regions of VTA and LC. Results: 1. As the results of the passive avoidance test. the sihoueokgantang showed tendency to improvement in compared with control group. 2. As the results of the forced swimming test, immobility of rats was significantly decreased in sihoueokgantang in compared with control group. 3. As the results of TH expression in the region of the LC, TH-immunoreactive cells were significantly decreased in the sihoueokgantang 100 mg/kg. As the results of TH expression in the region of the VTA. TH-immunoreactive cells were significantly decreased in the sihoueokgantang 400 mg/kg. Conclusion: As the results above, it can be considered that sihoueokgantang has the effects of preventing depression and memory decrease caused by stress.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.262-269
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• 2008

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of breeder age and stocking density on performance, carcass characteristics and some stress parameters (H-L ratio, serum glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, tonic immobility test (TI), antibody production, relative asymmetry (RA) and external appearances). This experiment was carried out with 705 one-day old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) obtained from three different ages of broiler breeder (32, 48 and 61 wks). Each age group was randomly divided into two stocking density groups (11.9 and 17.5 broilers per $m^2$) with 5 replications per group. The experimental period was 6 weeks. Broilers from 32 wk-old breeders had lower initial weight (p<0.001), body weight gain of the first 3 week of rearing (p<0.01), the percentage of abdominal fat (p<0.001) and serum cholesterol level (p<0.01); higher percentage of gizzard (p<0.01) and longer TI duration (p<0.001) than those from 48 and 61 wk-old breeders. Broilers reared at 17.5 b/m2 had lower final BW, body weight gain, feed consumption, feather condition and foot health (p<0.001), higher percentage of heart, H-L ratio, serum glucose and cholesterol levels (p<0.001), and longer TI durations (p<0.001). There were no significant interactions in examined parameters except for feed to gain ratio between breeder age and stocking density.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.157-178
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• 2003

Objective : This study was designed to assess the protective effects of Chengwhabosimtang on the animal model of depression, chronic mild stress(CMS). Method : Male Sprague-Dawley rats Were used for this experiment. The subjects Were divided into 3 groups (1. CMS-drug: Chengwhabosimtang administered during CMS treatment, 2. CMS-vehicle: water administered, 3. normal ). After 4 weeks of CMS treatment they were executed Forced swimming test(FST) and Elevated plus maze. Tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) in ventral tegmental area(VTA) and c-Fos in paraventricular nucleus(PVN) were measured. Result : 1. In FST, CMS-drug group showed significantly decreased immobility behavior. 2. CMS-drug group showed no significantly lower TH level in VTA than CMS-vehicle group. 3. CMS-drug group showed significantly less c-Fos expressed cell bodies in PVN than CMS-vehicle group. 4. In Elevated plus maze, CMS-drug group showed no significantly anxiety. Conclusion : These results suggest that Chengwhabosimtang may have protective antidepressant effects in CMS model rats. And these effects could be explained by the elevated stress-copying behaviors which are related with PVN of hypothalamus and dopaminergic neurons in VTA.