Intervention effects of Naoxintong capsules on psychological and cardiac status in depressed rats after heart failure
10.1097/st9.0000000000000044
- Author:
Jie ZHAO
1
;
Yi OUYANG
2
;
Shaowei HU
2
;
Guanghuan TIAN
3
;
Xixian KONG
2
;
Fuzhu PAN
3
;
Hongwei WU
2
;
Liying TANG
2
;
Hongjun YANG
1
Author Information
1. Beijing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Basic Research on Prevention and Treatment for Major Diseases, Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
2. Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
3. Zunyi Medical University, Guiyang, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Naoxintong capsules;
Traditional Chinese medicine;
Heart failure;
Depression;
Cardioprotective effect
- From:
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2024;2(4):319-326
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background: Depression is a common clinical phenomenon in the patients with heart failure (HF). In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), diseases in the brain and heart are thought to be correlated and interact. Naoxintong capsules (NXT) has been used for treating cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, while its therapeutic effect on depression after HF remains unclear. Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the intervention effect of NXT on depression after HF. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into the following 5 groups: sham, model, NXT (250, 1000 mg/kg), and valsartan (8 mg/kg). Coronary artery occlusion was performed to induce HF and subsequent depression in rats. The cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and Masson trichrome staining. The sucrose preference test and Morris water maze test were carried out to assess the depressive behaviors in rats. The ultrastructure of hippocampal CA1 neurons was observed and the levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone in the hypothalamus, brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the cortex, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the plasma were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, norepinephrine, and γ-aminobutyric acid in the hippocampus were measured by UPLC-QQQ-MS. Results: NXT reduced myocardial injury and pathological changes in the cardiac tissue and increased the left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular fractional shortening, and cardiac output. NXT increased the sugar preference rate and number of crossings and shortened the escape latency. Furthermore, the NXT treatment restored the levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, dopamine, and γ-aminobutyric acid to the baseline values. Conclusions: NXT not only demonstrates cardioprotective effect but also attenuates depression in the rats after HF. It may exert the antidepressant effect by inhibiting the hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and recovering the levels of neurotrophic factors and neurotransmitters.
