The Antidepressant Mechanism of JiaWeiWenDan Decoction Regulating p38MAPK-ERK5 Signal Transduction Pathway

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the anti-depression mechanism of JiaWeiWenDan Decoction in regulating p38MAPK-ERK5 signal transduction pathway. Methods: Depression model rats were randomly divided into Blank Control Group, Model Control Group, Chinese Medicine Treatment Group, and Western Medicine Treatment Group (hereinafter referred to as Blank Group, Model Group, Chinese Medicine Group, and Western Medicine Group), with 48 rats in each group. The mice were treated with p38MAPK-ERK5 on the 7th day, 14th day and 21st day, respectively, and the mice were treated for 28 days. The key targets and cytokines in p38MAPK-ERK5 signal transduction pathway were detected. Results: Compared with the Blank Group, the expression of p38MAPKmRNA in the hippocampus of the Model Group was increased. The Chinese Medicine Group and Western Medicine Group could reduce the expression of p38MAPK mRNA (P < 0.05). Compared with the Blank Group, the expression of ERK5 mRNA in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus of the Model Group decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The expression level of p38MAPK protein in hippocampus was increased in the Model Group, and the expression level of p38MAPK protein in hippocampus was decreased in the Chinese Medicine Group (P < 0.05). The expression levels of ERK protein in amygdala and hypothalamus in the Model Group were higher than those in the Blank Group, but the expression level of ERK protein in hippocampus was lower than that in the Blank Group. Compared with the Blank Group, the contents of NO and iNOS in hippocampus, frontal cortex and serum of the Model Group were significantly increased (P < 0.05); There was no significant difference between the Chinese and Western Medicine Groups. Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory effect of JiaWeiWenDan Decoction may be related to the regulation of p38MAPK-ERK5 signaling pathway. With the advance of the treatment week, the best effect was obtained when the treatment was