ObjectiveTo evaluate the Effect of Guishen Wan on learning and memory ability in D-galactose-induced aging model mice and to explore the application of the "Kidney-Brain Coordination" theory in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. MethodsAn subacute aging mouse model was established by subcutaneous injection of D-galactose （200 mg·kg^-1·d^-1） into the neck and back of KM mice. The mice were then administered GuiShen Wan at high， medium， and low doses （18， 9， 4.5 g·kg^-1·d^-1） or donepezil（2 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， a standard clinical therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease， served as the positive control in this study，for 4 consecutive weeks. Learning and memory abilities were evaluated using the Morris water maze. The degree of renal fibrosis was observed via Masson staining. Hippocampal neuron injury was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining. Damage to Nissl bodies in the hippocampus was examined using Nissl staining. The fluorescence expression intensity of Klotho in the hippocampus was detected by immunofluorescence. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of Klotho in the kidneys， as well as proteins related to the hippocampal inflammatory pathway and inflammatory factor-related signaling pathways. ResultsResults from the water maze test showed that compared with the blank group， the number of platform crossings and the time spent in the target quadrant were significantly decreased in the model group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， all dose groups of Guishen Wan significantly increased the number of platform crossings and the time spent in the target quadrant in model mice （P<0.01）.Masson staining results showed that compared with the blank group， the collagen volume fraction was significantly increased in the model group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， all dose groups of Guishen Wan significantly reduced the collagen volume fraction in the model group （P<0.01）. Kidney Western blot analysis showed that compared with the blank group， the Klotho protein was significantly decreased in the model group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Guishen Wan elevated the klotho protein （P<0.01）.Neuronal cell count results showed that compared with the blank group， the number of neurons was significantly reduced in the model group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Guishen Wan exhibited a dose-dependent trend in repairing neuronal damage and increasing the number of neuronal cells （P<0.01）.Immunofluorescence intensity results showed that compared with the blank group， the positive expression of Klotho was significantly decreased in the model group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， all dose groups of Guishen Wan enhanced Klotho fluorescence expression （P<0.01）.Hippocampal Western blot analysis showed that compared with the blank group， the ratios of interleukin（IL）-1β and IL-6 proteins were significantly increased in the model group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， all dose groups of Guishen Wan significantly reduced the ratios of IL-1β and IL-6 proteins（P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， the ratio of phosphorylated-nuclear transcription factor-κB（p-NF-κB） protein was significantly increased （P<0.01）， while the klotho protein was significantly decreased （P<0.01） in the model group. Compared with the model group， all Guishen Wan groups significantly reduced the p-NF-κB protein （P<0.05， P<0.01） and significantly increased the Klotho protein（P<0.01）. ConclusionGuishen Wan effectively ameliorates D-galactose-induced aging in model mice. Its mechanism of action may be related to upregulating Klotho concentration and inhibiting inflammatory factors associated with the NF-κB signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Banxia Shumitang plus Zhizichi Tang （BZ） on PTEN-induced kinase 1 （PINK1）/Parkin signaling pathway in regulating mitochondrial autophagy in preventing insomnia with depression. MethodsSeventy-two 6-week-old male Kunming mice were randomized into a normal group， a model group， low-dose， medium-dose， and high-dose BZ groups （BZ-L， BZ-M， BZ-H， 2.92， 5.85， 11.7 g·kg^-1）， and an estazolam （0.21 mg·kg^-1） group. Insomnia model was established on days 1 to 3. p-Chlorophenylalanine （PCPA） was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 400 mg·kg^-1 into mice of the model group and administration groups for 3 consecutive days. Then， the classic depression model was established with chronic unpredictable mild stress （CUMS） for 28 consecutive days. Administration and modeling were performed simultaneously. After gavage， 24 h spontaneous activity test was performed to test sleep state， and sugar preference test and open field test were performed to evaluate anxiety-like state. The morphological changes of the hypothalamus were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， and the number of Nissl bodies was observed by Nissl staining. The ultrastructure of mitochondria was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The mitochondrial membrane potential assay kit （JC-1） was used to examine the mitochondrial function， and a biochemical assay kit was used to measure the ATP content in the hypothalamus. The level of reactive oxygen species （ROS） was determined by the immunofluorescence assay， and the serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT）， noradrenalin （NE）， and cortisol （CORT） were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Western blot and Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） were employed to determine the expression of PINK1， Parkin， microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3）， and isolator protein 1 （p62） at protein and mRNA levels， respectively. ResultsThe 24 h spontaneous activity test showed that compared with the normal group， the model group did not exhibit circadian rhythm characteristics in their spontaneous activity time， while the circadian rhythm characteristics were restored in each treatment group （P<0.05）. The sucrose preference test indicated that compared with that in the normal group， the sucrose preference rate in the model group reduced （P<0.01）， and compared with that in the model group， the sucrose preference rate in each treatment group increased （P<0.01）. The open field test revealed that compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited decreased movement distance， average speed， frequency of visits to the central area， and time spent in the central area （P<0.01）， and compared with those in the model group， these parameters in each treatment group increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. HE staining showed that compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited disarrangement of neurons in the hypothalamus， enlarged intercellular space， and severe nuclear condensation， while the degree of hypothalamic neuronal damage in each treatment group was alleviated. Nissl staining indicated that compared with the normal group， the model group demonstrated aggravated neuronal damage and increased damaged cells （P<0.01）. Compared with that in the model group， the number of damaged cells in each treatment group decreased （P<0.01）. Transmission electron microscopy showed that compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited mitochondrial swelling and rupture in the hypothalamus， with visible autophagic lysosomes in the cytoplasm. Compared with those in the model group， only a few autophagic lysosomes were observed in the BZ-L group， and the degree of mitochondrial swelling and rupture was alleviated in the other treatment groups. ROS immunofluorescence assay showed that compared with the normal group， the model group displayed enhanced red fluorescence intensity of mitochondrial ROS （P<0.01）， which was attenuated in each treatment group （P<0.01）. Mitochondrial membrane potential assay showed that compared with the normal group， the model group had declined mitochondrial membrane potential （P<0.01）， which was recovered in each treatment group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The biochemical assay of ATP levels indicated that compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited decreased ATP content （P<0.01）， which rebound in each treatment group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ELISA showed that compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited decreased 5-HT content and increased NE and CORT content （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， each treatment group showed increased 5-HT content （P<0.01） and reduced NE content （P<0.01） and CORT content （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Western blot of the hypothalamus showed that compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited downregulated protein levels of PINK1， Parkin， and LC3 （P<0.01） and upregulated protein level of p62 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， each treatment group showed upregulated protein levels of PINK1， Parkin， and LC3 （P<0.05， P<0.01） and downregulated protein level of p62 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Real-time PCR showed that compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited downregulated mRNA levels of PINK1， Parkin， and LC3 （P<0.01） and upregulated mRNA level of p62 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， each treatment group showed upregulated mRNA levels of PINK1， Parkin， and LC3 （P<0.01） and downregulated mRNA level of p62 （P<0.01）. ConclusionBZ can ameliorate the insomnia and anxiety state of mice by regulating PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway to improve the mitochondrial function， enhance mitochondrial autophagy， protect neurons， and repair damaged nerve cells.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Banxia Shumitang plus Zhizichi Tang （BZ） on PTEN-induced kinase 1 （PINK1）/Parkin signaling pathway in regulating mitochondrial autophagy in preventing insomnia with depression. MethodsSeventy-two 6-week-old male Kunming mice were randomized into a normal group， a model group， low-dose， medium-dose， and high-dose BZ groups （BZ-L， BZ-M， BZ-H， 2.92， 5.85， 11.7 g·kg^-1）， and an estazolam （0.21 mg·kg^-1） group. Insomnia model was established on days 1 to 3. p-Chlorophenylalanine （PCPA） was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 400 mg·kg^-1 into mice of the model group and administration groups for 3 consecutive days. Then， the classic depression model was established with chronic unpredictable mild stress （CUMS） for 28 consecutive days. Administration and modeling were performed simultaneously. After gavage， 24 h spontaneous activity test was performed to test sleep state， and sugar preference test and open field test were performed to evaluate anxiety-like state. The morphological changes of the hypothalamus were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， and the number of Nissl bodies was observed by Nissl staining. The ultrastructure of mitochondria was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The mitochondrial membrane potential assay kit （JC-1） was used to examine the mitochondrial function， and a biochemical assay kit was used to measure the ATP content in the hypothalamus. The level of reactive oxygen species （ROS） was determined by the immunofluorescence assay， and the serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT）， noradrenalin （NE）， and cortisol （CORT） were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Western blot and Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） were employed to determine the expression of PINK1， Parkin， microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3）， and isolator protein 1 （p62） at protein and mRNA levels， respectively. ResultsThe 24 h spontaneous activity test showed that compared with the normal group， the model group did not exhibit circadian rhythm characteristics in their spontaneous activity time， while the circadian rhythm characteristics were restored in each treatment group （P<0.05）. The sucrose preference test indicated that compared with that in the normal group， the sucrose preference rate in the model group reduced （P<0.01）， and compared with that in the model group， the sucrose preference rate in each treatment group increased （P<0.01）. The open field test revealed that compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited decreased movement distance， average speed， frequency of visits to the central area， and time spent in the central area （P<0.01）， and compared with those in the model group， these parameters in each treatment group increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. HE staining showed that compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited disarrangement of neurons in the hypothalamus， enlarged intercellular space， and severe nuclear condensation， while the degree of hypothalamic neuronal damage in each treatment group was alleviated. Nissl staining indicated that compared with the normal group， the model group demonstrated aggravated neuronal damage and increased damaged cells （P<0.01）. Compared with that in the model group， the number of damaged cells in each treatment group decreased （P<0.01）. Transmission electron microscopy showed that compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited mitochondrial swelling and rupture in the hypothalamus， with visible autophagic lysosomes in the cytoplasm. Compared with those in the model group， only a few autophagic lysosomes were observed in the BZ-L group， and the degree of mitochondrial swelling and rupture was alleviated in the other treatment groups. ROS immunofluorescence assay showed that compared with the normal group， the model group displayed enhanced red fluorescence intensity of mitochondrial ROS （P<0.01）， which was attenuated in each treatment group （P<0.01）. Mitochondrial membrane potential assay showed that compared with the normal group， the model group had declined mitochondrial membrane potential （P<0.01）， which was recovered in each treatment group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The biochemical assay of ATP levels indicated that compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited decreased ATP content （P<0.01）， which rebound in each treatment group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ELISA showed that compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited decreased 5-HT content and increased NE and CORT content （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， each treatment group showed increased 5-HT content （P<0.01） and reduced NE content （P<0.01） and CORT content （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Western blot of the hypothalamus showed that compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited downregulated protein levels of PINK1， Parkin， and LC3 （P<0.01） and upregulated protein level of p62 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， each treatment group showed upregulated protein levels of PINK1， Parkin， and LC3 （P<0.05， P<0.01） and downregulated protein level of p62 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Real-time PCR showed that compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited downregulated mRNA levels of PINK1， Parkin， and LC3 （P<0.01） and upregulated mRNA level of p62 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， each treatment group showed upregulated mRNA levels of PINK1， Parkin， and LC3 （P<0.01） and downregulated mRNA level of p62 （P<0.01）. ConclusionBZ can ameliorate the insomnia and anxiety state of mice by regulating PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway to improve the mitochondrial function， enhance mitochondrial autophagy， protect neurons， and repair damaged nerve cells.