Effects of Ginseng Fruit Saponins on Serotonin System in Sprague-Dawley Rats with Myocardial Infarction, Depression, and Myocardial Infarction Complicated with Depression

Abstract

Background:Our previous studies have demonstrated that the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-HT 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) in serum and platelet were associated with depression and myocardial infarction (MI), and pretreatment with ginseng fruit saponins (GFS) before MI and depression had an effect on the 5-HT system. In this study, the effects of GFS on the 5-HT system in the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with MI, depression, and MI + depression were evaluated.Methods:A total of eighty SD rats were allocated to four groups: MI, depression, MI + depression, and control groups (n = 20 in each group). Each group included two subgroups (n = 10 in each subgroup): Saline treatment subgroup and GFS treatment subgroup. The levels of 5-HT, 5-HT2AR, and serotonin transporter (SERT) were quantified in serum, platelet lysate, and brain tissue through the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, respectively.Results:Compared with those in the saline treatment subgroups, the levels of 5-HT in serum and platelet lysate statistically significantly increased in the GFS treatment subgroups of MI, depression, and MI + depression groups (serum: all P = 0.000; platelet lysate: P = 0.002, 0.000, 0.000, respectively). However, the 5-HT levels in brain homogenate significantly decreased in the GFS treatment subgroups compared with those in the saline treatment subgroups in MI and depression groups (P = 0.025 and 0.044 respectively), and no significant difference was observed between saline and GFS treatment subgroups in MI + depression group (P = 0.663). Compared with that in GFS treatment subgroup of control group, the 5-HT2AR levels in the platelet lysate significantly decreased in GFS treatment subgroups of MI, depression, and MI + depression groups (all P = 0.000). Compared to those in the saline treatment subgroups, the serum SERT levels significantly decreased in the GFS treatment subgroups in MI, depression, and MI + depression groups (P = 0.009, 0.038, and P = 0.001, respectively), while the SERT levels of platelet lysate significantly decreased in GFS treatment subgroup of MI group (P = 0.000), significantly increased in GFS treatment subgroup of depression group (P = 0.019), and slightly changed in GFS treatment subgroup of MI + depression group (P = 0.219). No significant changes for SERT levels in brain homogenate could be found between the saline and GFS treatment subgroups in MI, depression, and MI + depression groups (P = 0.421, 0.076 and P = 0.642).Conclusions:This study indicated that GFS might inhibit the reuptake of 5-HT from serum to platelet according to decreased 5-HT2AR in platelet and SERT in serum and platelet. The change of 5-HT in serum after GFS treatment was inconsistent with that in the brain. It seemed that GFS could not pass through the blood-brain barrier to affect the central serotonergic system.

5-Hydroxytryptamine Changes under Different Pretreatments on Rat Models of Myocardial Infarction and/or Depression

“…In the recent years, the elevated comorbidity rates between cardiovascular disease and depression have occasioned several investigations on the link between them. [ 17 18 ] Our previous studies[ 19 20 ] showed that 5-HT-enhanced platelet activation emerged from this work as a leading candidate explanation of the elevated cardiac risk that attended a diagnosis of major depression.…”

Association between N-terminal proB-type Natriuretic Peptide and Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

“…This biological marker has been identified as a vital predictor of mortality and subsequent myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with AMI. [ 6 7 8 9 ] Prior evidence indicated that patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) had increased NT-proBNP levels,[ 10 ] and results from several surveys suggested that NT-proBNP levels were correlated with depressive symptoms in patients with cardiovascular diseases. [ 11 12 ] However, the above findings are not conclusive, with some studies failing to find a statistically significant association between NT-proBNP levels and depression.…”

Emerging signals modulating potential of ginseng and its active compounds focusing on neurodegenerative diseases

“…Furthermore, ginseng extracts and its active compounds have exhibited properties including antistress, antidepressive, and neuroprotective in various studies of neurological disease models [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28], [29], [30]. They also enhanced cognitive performance and help maintain brain health [30], [31], [32], [33], [34].…”