Effect of Fushen Decoction on 5-HT system and GABA expression in mouse model of PCPA-induced insomnia.
10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20241101.401
- Author:
Jun-Hang HU
1
;
Fei XU
1
;
Tong-Sheng WANG
1
;
Hua-Sheng PENG
2
;
Li LI
1
Author Information
1. Department of Pharmacology, School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine Hefei 230012, China.
2. National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica,China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Beijing 100700, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
4-chloro-DL-phenylalanine(PCPA);
5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT);
Fushen Decoction;
tranquilizing mind;
tryptophan hydroxylase-2(TPH2);
γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA)
- MeSH:
Animals;
Serotonin/genetics*;
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/genetics*;
Mice;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*;
Male;
Mice, Inbred ICR;
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/genetics*;
Disease Models, Animal;
Fenclonine/adverse effects*;
Tryptophan Hydroxylase/genetics*;
Brain/metabolism*;
Sleep/drug effects*;
Humans;
5-Hydroxytryptophan/metabolism*
- From:
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica
2025;50(6):1581-1591
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
This study aims to observe the mind-tranquilizing effect of Fushen Decoction on mice and investigate its effects on the 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) system and γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA) in the brain of the mouse model of 4-chloro-DL-phenylalanine(PCPA)-induced insomnia. ICR mice were administrated with coffee(1 g·kg~(-1)) for 3 days, and the effects of Fushen Decoction(10, 20, and 40 g·kg~(-1)) on the autonomic activities of normal mice and coffee-treated mice were observed. Furthermore, the effects of Fushen Decoction on the autonomic activity and sleep induced by a suprathreshold dose of pentobarbital sodium in the mouse model of PCPA(350 mg·kg~(-1) for 3 consecutive days)-induced insomnia were observed. The levels of tryptophan hydroxylase(TPH), 5-hydroxytryptophan(5-HTP), and 5-HT in the serum, as well as those of 5-HTP and 5-HT in the brain stem, hippocampus, and cortex, were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The fluorescence intensity of 5-HT in the raphe nucleus, hippocampus, and cortex was measured by the immunofluorescence method. The protein levels of tryptophan hydroxylase-2(TPH2) and 5-HT_(1A) receptor(5-HT_(1A)R) in the brain stem, hippocampus, and cortex were measured by Western blot. The levels of GABA in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and cortex were measured by ELISA and immunohistochemistry methods. The results showed that Fushen Decoction(20, 40 g·kg~(-1)) reduced the number of autonomous activities in normal mice, coffee-treated mice, and the mouse model of PCPA-induced insomnia, and prolonged the duration of sleep induced by a suprathreshold dose of pentobarbital sodium in the mouse model. Fushen Decoction(20, 40 g·kg~(-1)) elevated the levels of TPH, 5-HTP, and 5-HT in the serum, and TPH2, 5-HTP, 5-HT, and 5-HT_(1A)R in the brain stem, hippocampus, and cortex, and up-regulated GABA expression in the hypothalamus, cortex, and hippocampus of the mouse model of PCPA-induced insomnia. In conclusion, Fushen Decoction(20, 40 g·kg~(-1)) exerted a mind-tranquilizing effect on mice by up-regulating the expression of TPH2, enhancing the 5-HT system, and elevating the GABA level in the brain.
