Abstract
In this study, the antidepressant-like effects of Morus alba fractions in rats were investigated in the forced swim test (FST). Male Wistar rats (9-week-old) were administered orally the M. alba ethyl acetate (EtOAc 30 and 100 mg/kg) and M. alba n-butanol fractions (n-BuOH 30 and 100 mg/kg) every day for 7 consecutive days. On day 7, 1 h after the final administration of the fractions, the rats were exposed to the FST. M. alba EtOAc fraction at the dose of 100 mg/kg induced a decrease in immobility behavior (p < 0.01) with a concomitant increase in both climbing (p < 0.05) and swimming (p < 0.05) behaviors when compared with the control group, and M. alba EtOAc fraction at the dose of 100 mg/kg decreased the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to the stress, as indicated by an attenuated corticosterone response and decreased c-fos immunoreactivity in the hippocampal and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) region. These findings demonstrated that M. alba EtOAc fraction have beneficial effects on depressive behaviors and restore both altered c-fos expression and HPA activity.
Highlights
Mental disorders are prevalent among the general population [1]
To examine whether M. alba EtOAc fractions affect neural responses in the rats exposed to the forced swim test (FST), c-fos immunohistochemical density was measured in the hippocampus and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN)
A significant inhibition of c-fos immunoreactivity was observed in the group that was treated with M. alba EtOAc fraction at the dose of 100 mg/kg (Figure 3D,d)
Summary
Mental disorders are prevalent among the general population [1]. At any given time, approximately. Consistent with a role for glucocorticoids in depression, GR antagonists have been encouraged as having potential therapeutic benefits for stress-related disorders. This is based on the ability of GR antagonist to block the increase in the levels of circulating glucocorticoids and on their ability to up-regulate GR [10]. Our finding demonstrated that the root bark of Morus alba extracts possesses potent antagonistic activity against glucocorticoid, at least in part. To determine the neurobiological effects underlying the antidepressant-like activity of the M. alba fractions, corticosterone responses and c-fos immunoreactivity were evaluated in rats exposed to FST
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