To study the ameliorative effect of Eucommiae Cortex extract on spatial learning disabilities in APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice and explore its relationship with estrogen receptor β(ERβ)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) signaling pathway, sixty 3-month-old male APP/PS1 mice were randomly divided into a model group, an anti-brain failure capsule group(0.585 g·kg~(-1)), a donepezil hydrochloride group(0.65 mg·kg~(-1)), and a Eucommiae Cortex extract group(1.3 g·kg~(-1)), and 15 C57BL/6 mice of the same genetic background were set as WT control group. The learning and memory ability of mice was assessed by the Morris water maze test(MWM), the passive avoidance test(PAT), and the novel object recognition test(NOR). The histomorphological and cellular ultrastructural features of the hippocampal region of the mice were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and transmission electron microscopy(TEM); the molecular docking validation of the key active ingredients and the key targets was performed by using AutoDock Vina software, and the immunohistochemical method(IHC) was used to detect the ERβ expression in the dentate gyrus(DG) area of mouse hippocampus. Western blot(WB) was utilized to detect the expression of ERβ, p-JNK, and JNK in mouse hippocampal area. Compared with those in the WT control group, the results of behavioral experiments showed that the latency of the mice in the model group was significantly increased, the number of platform traversals, and the target quadrant residence time were significantly decreased in the MWM. The evasion latency was significantly reduced, and the number of errors was significantly increased in the PAT. The index of recognition of novel objects was significantly reduced in the NOR. The results of HE staining indicated that the hippocampal area of mice in the model group showed a decrease in the number of neurons, disorganization of pyramidal cell arrangement, nucleus consolidation, and other changes. TEM results showed that some neuronal nuclei in the hippocampal area had a consolidated state, slightly thickened and aberrant nuclear membranes, and fewer intracytoplasmic nidus bodies; the IHC results showed that the expression of ERβ in the hippocampal DG area of the mice was reduced. The WB results showed that the ERβ expression in the hippocampal tissue was decreased, and the p-JNK/JNK level was elevated. Compared with the model group, the Eucommiae Cortex extract group showed a significant decrease in latency, and increase in number of platform traversals and target quadrant residence time in the MWM, a significant increase in evasion latency and decrease in number of errors in the PAT, and a significant increase in the index of recognition of novel objects in the NOR. In addition, there was an increase in the number of neurons in the hippocampal area of mice. The pyramidal cells tended to be arranged in an orderly manner; the nuclei of neurons in the hippocampal area were in a better state; the expression of ERβ in the hippocampal DG area of the mice was elevated; the expression of ERβ in the hippocampal tissue was elevated, and the level of p-JNK/JNK was reduced. The effects of donepezil hydrochloride group and anti-brain failure capsule on APP/PS1 mice in terms of behavioral, HE, and TEM indexes were similar to those of Eucommiae Cortex extract, and there was no significant difference between donepezil hydrochloride group and the model group in IHC and WB experiments, and the results of molecular docking indicated that the estrogen-like components in Eucommiae Cortex extract were tightly bound to ERβ. In conclusion, the binding of Eucommiae Cortex extract to estrogen receptors, regulation of ERβ expression, and activation of ERβ/JNK signaling pathway may be one of the key mechanisms by which it improves the learning and memory ability of APP/PS1 mice.
Animals ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Memory/drug effects* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Estrogen Receptor beta/genetics* ; Eucommiaceae/chemistry* ; Alzheimer Disease/psychology* ; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor/metabolism* ; Presenilin-1/metabolism* ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Maze Learning/drug effects* ; Learning/drug effects*

The Baihe Dihuang Decoction(BDD) is a representative traditional Chinese medicine formula that has been used to treat depression. This study employed metabolomics and network pharmacology to investigate the mechanism of BDD in the treatment of depression. Fifty male Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were randomly assigned to the normal control group, model group, fluoxetine group, and high-and low-dose BDD groups. A rat model of depression was established through chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS), and the behavioral changes were detected by forced swimming test and open field test. Metabolomics technology was used to analyze the metabolic profiles of serum and hippocampal tissue to screen differential metabolites and related metabolic pathways. Additionally, network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were used to investigate the key targets and core active ingredients of BDD in improving metabolic abnormalities of depression. A "component-target-metabolite-pathway" regulatory network was constructed. BDD could significantly improve depressive-like behavior in CUMS rats and regulate 12 differential metabolites in serum and 27 differential metabolites in the hippocampus, involving tryptophan metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, and purine metabolism. Verbascoside, isorbascoside, and regaloside B were the key active ingredients for improving metabolic abnormalities in depression. Epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR), protooncogene tyrosine-protein kinase(SRC), glycogen synthase kinase 3β(GSK3β), and androgen receptor(AR) were the key core targets for improving metabolic abnormalities of depression. This study offered a preliminary insight into the mechanism of BDD in alleviating metabolic abnormalities of depression through network regulation, providing valuable guidance for its clinical use and subsequent research.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Metabolomics ; Depression/genetics* ; Antidepressive Agents/chemistry* ; Network Pharmacology ; Hippocampus/drug effects* ; Humans ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Behavior, Animal/drug effects* ; Disease Models, Animal

This study predicts the potential mechanism of Hippocampus in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis(KOA) through network pharmacology, with preliminary verification using molecular docking and animal experiments. The database was used to screen the active chemical components of Hippocampus and the targets of KOA, and Gene Ontology(GO) functional analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, and molecular docking were performed on the relevant core targets to preliminarily explore the potential targets and mechanisms of Hippocampus in the treatment of KOA. A rat KOA model was constructed by intra-articular injection of sodium iodoacetate, and the rats were intervened with different doses of Hippocampus decoction and celecoxib. The expression of relevant targets was detected through hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), RT-qPCR, and Western blot to further validate the network pharmacology results. A total of 23 drug-like components of the Hippocampus were screened, and 128 common targets with KOA were identified, involving interleukin-17(IL-17) signaling pathway, transcription factor(FoxO) signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor(TNF) signaling pathway. Molecular docking results showed that the screened core chemical components exhibited good affinity with key targets. HE staining demonstrated that Hippocampus improved the morphology of the cartilage layer. ELISA confirmed that Hippocampus significantly reduced the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the serum of KOA rats. Western blot and RT-qPCR analysis showed that Hippocampus significantly reduced the expression of IL-6, TNF-α, matrix metalloproteinase(MMP) 13, IL-17A, nuclear factor κB activator 1(ACT1), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF6) and nuclear factor κB(NF-κB) in cartilage tissue. The results suggest that Hippocampus can alleviate the degree of joint damage in the KOA rat model induced by sodium iodoacetate. The mechanism of action is related to the inhibition of the IL-17 signaling pathway, reduction of inflammation, and inhibition of extracellular matrix(ECM) degradation.
Animals ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Rats ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Network Pharmacology ; Male ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Humans ; Interleukin-17/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hippocampus/chemistry*

This study identified the anti-depression targets of Kaixin San(KXS) in the brain tissue with "target fishing" strategy, and explored the target-associated pharmacological signaling pathways to reveal the anti-depression molecular mechanism of KXS. The Balb/c mouse model of depression was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS) and the anti-depression effect of KXS was evaluated by forced swimming test and sucrose preference test. KXS active components were bonded to the benzophenone-modified magnetic nanoparticles by photocrosslinking reaction for capturing target proteins from cortex, thalamus and hippocampus of depressive mice. The target proteins were identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS). The enrichment analysis on signaling pathways was performed by Cytoscape. The potential biological functions of targets were verified by immunohistochemistry and Western blot assay. The results showed that KXS significantly improved the behavioral indexes. There were 64, 91, and 44 potential targets of KXS identified in cortex, thalamus, and hippocampus, respectively, according to the target identification experiment. The functions of these targets were mainly associated with vasopressin-regulated water reabsorption, salmonella infection, thyroid hormone synthesis, and other signaling pathways. Besides, the results of immunohistochemistry and Western blot showed that KXS up-regulated the expressions of argipressine(AVP) in the cortex, heat shock protein 60(HSP60), cytochrome C oxidase 4(COX4), and thyrotropin-releasing hormone(TRH) in the thalamus, and down-regulated the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB) p65 in the thalamus. Therefore, KXS may exert anti-depression effect through regulating vasopressin signaling pathway in the cortex and inflammation, energy metabolism, and thyroid hormone signaling pathways in the thalamus, and the effect of KXS on hippocampus is not significant.
Animals ; Mice ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Hippocampus ; Stress, Psychological/drug therapy* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Depression/drug therapy*

To investigate the effect of Rehmanniae Radix on depression-like behavior and monoamine neurotransmitters of chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS) model rats. CUMS combined with isolated feeding was used to induce the depression model of rats. The depression-like behavior of rats was evaluated by sucrose preference test, open field test, and forced swim test. Hematoxylin-Eosin(HE) staining was used to investigate the pathological changes of neurons in the CA1 and CA3 area of hippocampus. Ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS) was used to detect the contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA), dopamine(DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid(DOPAC), homovanillic acid(HVA), norepinephrine(NE), and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol(MHPG) in rats. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of tryptophan hydroxylase 2(TPH2), serotonin transporter(SERT), and monoamine oxidase A(MAO-A) in the hippocampus of rats. Compared with the normal group, depressive-like behavior of rats was obvious in the model group. The arrangements of neurons in the CA1 and CA3 area of hippocampus were loose and disorderly. The levels of 5-HT, 5-HIAA, and 5-HT/5-HIAA in the hippocampal area were decreased(P<0.01). The protein expression of TPH2 was decreased(P<0.01), but those of SERT and MAO-A were increased(P<0.01). In the Rehmanniae Radix groups with 1.8 g·kg~(-1) and 7.2 g·kg~(-1), the depression-like behavior of CUMS rats and pathological changes of neurons in CA1, CA3 area of hippocampus were improved. The protein expression of TPH2(P<0.05, P<0.01) was increased, and those of SERT and MAO-A were down-regulated(P<0.05, P<0.01). The levels of 5-HT, 5-HIAA, and 5-HT/5-HIAA in hippocampus were increased(P<0.05, P<0.01). The changes in DA, DOPAC, HVA, DA/(DOPAC +HVA), NE, DHPG, and NE/DHPG were not statistically significant. The results suggested that Rehmanniae Radix improved depression-like behavior of CUMS rats, and the mechanism might be related to the regulation of synthesis, transportation, and metabolism of 5-HT neurotransmitter in the hippocampus.
3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Depression/drug therapy* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dopamine ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS)/pharmacology* ; Hematoxylin/pharmacology* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Homovanillic Acid/pharmacology* ; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid/metabolism* ; Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol/pharmacology* ; Monoamine Oxidase/metabolism* ; Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism* ; Norepinephrine/pharmacology* ; Plant Extracts ; Rats ; Rehmannia/chemistry* ; Serotonin/metabolism* ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins/pharmacology* ; Stress, Psychological/metabolism* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Tryptophan Hydroxylase/metabolism*

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cognition ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/drug therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Hippocampus/cytology* ; Moringa/chemistry* ; Neurons/drug effects* ; Plant Leaves/chemistry* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Acorus tatarinowii Schott and its active component 5- hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) on learning and memory and ERK/CREB signal in hippocampus of rats with exercise-induced fatigue. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into normal group (A), exercise group (B), exercise + HMF low, middle and high dose treatment group (C, D, E), exercise + acorus tatarinowii Schott low, middle and high dose treatment group (F, G, H), with ten rats in each group. The rats in group C, D and E were treated with HMF at the doses of 0.10, 1.00 and 3.00 mg. kg by ig. The rats in group F, G and H were treated with the extracts of Acorus tatarinowii Schott at the doses of 0.12, 1.20 and 4.80 g. kg by ig. Learning and memory of rats were tested by the method of water maze experiment, and the expression levels of p-ERK1/2 and p-CREB protein in hippocampus of rats were tested by the method of Western blot in the end of the experiment. RESULTS: The escape latencies of E and H groups were lower than those of groups B, C, D, F and G; and the numbers of plateau crossing were more than those of groups B, C, D, F and G and the expression levels of p-ERK1/2, p-CREB protein were higher than those of groups B, C, D, F and G , respectively(P ＜ 0.01). There was no significant difference in the above indexes among groups A, E and H(P＞0.05) except that the expression levels of p-ERK2 protein in group E were lower than those in group A and H (P＜0.05). CONCLUSION Acorus tatarinowii and its active component- HMF can improve the learning and memory of rats with exercise-induced fatigue, and the mechanism is related to the up-regulation of ERK / CREB signal in hippocampus of rats with exercise-induced fatigue.
Acorus ; chemistry ; Animals ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; metabolism ; Fatigue ; drug therapy ; Furaldehyde ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Phytochemicals ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The chemical constituents and action targets of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma and Curcumae Radix were screened by network pharmacological method,and the mechanism of the combination of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma and Curcumae Radix in the treatment of epilepsy was analyzed. All chemical constituents of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma and Curcumae Radix were retrieved by TCMSP,and their action targets were screened. Component target PPI network was constructed. Epilepsy-related genes were retrieved from PharmGkb database,and PPI networks of disease targets were drawn by Cytoscape software. Cytoscape software was used to merge the network,screen the core network,and further analyze the gene GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment,which was verified by experimental research. One hundred and five chemical constituents of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma and 222 chemical constituents of Curcumae Radix were retrieved. Nineteen compounds were selected as candidate compounds according to OB and DL values. Among them,4 chemical constituents of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma and 15 chemical constituents of Curcumae Radix were found. A total of 88 target proteins were retrieved by retrieving TCMSP data,and PPI network was constructed. Through PharmGkb database,29 epilepsy-related genes were retrieved and disease target network was established. Cytoscape software and plug-ins were used for network merging and core network screening,and 69 genes were screened out. Through GO function analysis and KEGG pathway analysis,the mechanism of anti-epilepsy is related to prolactin signaling pathway,HTLV-Ⅰ infection signaling pathway,MAPK signaling pathway and herpes simplex infection signaling pathway. Further experimental verification showed that the serum prolactin level in epileptic rats was significantly increased. The neurons in hippocampal CA1 area degenerated,necrotized and lost 24 hours after epileptic seizure,and some neuron interstitial edema occurred. The possible mechanism of compatibility of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma and Curcumae Radix is related to serum prolactin level,MAPK signaling pathway,HTLV-Ⅰ infection and herpes simplex infection. The analysis may be related to viral encephalitis caused by HTLV-Ⅰ virus and herpes simplex infection,which damages nerve cells and causes seizures.
Acorus ; chemistry ; Animals ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; drug effects ; pathology ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epilepsy ; drug therapy ; Hippocampus ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rhizome ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the molecular mechanisms of the adverse effects of exposure to sulfamonomethoxin (SMM) in pregnancy on the neurobehavioral development of male offspring. METHODS: Pregnant mice were randomly divided into four groups: control- (normal saline), low- [10 mg/(kg•day)], middle- [50 mg/(kg•day)], and high-dose [200 mg/(kg•day)] groups, which received SMM by gavage daily during gestational days 1-18. We measured the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in feces from dams and male pups. Furthermore, we analyzed the mRNA and protein levels of genes involved in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in the hippocampus of male pups by RT-PCR or Western blotting. RESULTS: Fecal SCFA concentrations were significantly decreased in dams. Moreover, the production of individual fecal SCFAs was unbalanced, with a tendency for an increased level of total fecal SCFAs in male pups on postnatal day (PND) 22 and 56. Furthermore, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3k)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mTOR or mTOR/ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1)/4EBP1 signaling pathway was continuously upregulated until PND 56 in male offspring. In addition, the expression of Sepiapterin Reductase (SPR), a potential target of mTOR, was inhibited. CONCLUSION In utero exposure to SMM, persistent upregulation of the hippocampal mTOR pathway related to dysfunction of the gut (SCFA)-brain axis may contribute to cognitive deficits in male offspring.
Alcohol Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents ; toxicity ; Fatty Acids, Volatile ; analysis ; Feces ; chemistry ; Female ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; Sulfamonomethoxine ; toxicity ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism

BackgroundGlehnia littoralis has been used for traditional Asian medicine, which has diverse therapeutic activities. However, studies regarding neurogenic effects of G. littoralis have not yet been considered. Therefore, in this study, we examined effects of G. littoralis extract on cell proliferation, neuroblast differentiation, and the maturation of newborn neurons in the hippocampus of adult mice.

MethodsA total of 39 male ICR mice (12 weeks old) were randomly assigned to vehicle-treated and 100 and 200 mg/kg G. littoralis extract-treated groups (n = 13 in each group). Vehicle and G. littoralis extract were orally administrated for 28 days. To examine neurogenic effects of G. littoralis extract, we performed immunohistochemistry for 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU, an indicator for cell proliferation) and doublecortin (DCX, an immature neuronal marker) and double immunofluorescence staining for BrdU and neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN, a mature neuronal marker). In addition, we examined expressional changes of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its major receptor tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) using Western blotting analysis.

ResultsTreatment with 200 mg/kg, not 100 mg/kg, significantly increased number of BrdU-immunoreactive () and DCX cells (48.0 ± 3.1 and 72.0 ± 3.8 cells/section, respectively) in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus (DG) and BrdU/NeuN cells (17.0 ± 1.5 cells/section) in the granule cell layer as well as in the SGZ. In addition, protein levels of BDNF and TrkB (about 232% and 244% of the vehicle-treated group, respectively) were significantly increased in the DG of the mice treated with 200 mg/kg of G. littoralis extract.

ConclusionG. littoralis extract promots cell proliferation, neuroblast differentiation, and neuronal maturation in the hippocampal DG, and neurogenic effects might be closely related to increases of BDNF and TrkB proteins by G. littoralis extract treatment.

Animals ; Apiaceae ; chemistry ; Blotting, Western ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dentate Gyrus ; cytology ; drug effects ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Neurogenesis ; drug effects ; Neuropeptides ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Receptor, trkB ; metabolism