Effects of Mixture of Citri Peticulatae Viride Pericarpium and Lycii Radicis Cortex on the Change of HPA-Axis and Catecholamic System in the Forced Swimming Test

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives：In this study the antidepressant effects of mixture of Citri Peticulatae Viride Pericarpium and Lycii Radicis Cortex on the change of HPA-Axis and Catecholamic system was investigatedMethods：The forced swimming test(FST) was performed. The expression of corticotropin-releasing factor(CRF), c-Fos in the paraventricular nucleus(PVN), and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) in the ventral tegmental area(VTA) and locus coeruleus(LC) was measured with immunohistochemical method and the concentration of seum adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH) was measured with ELISA method. And the experimental groups were divided into the extraction after mixing(A) and mixture after extraction(B). The effects of both group were compared. Results：The duration of immobility in the forced swimming test was significantly decreased in the A400 group(P<0.01). The expression of CRF in PVN were significantly reduced in the A100, A400, B100, B400groups(P<0.001). but the expression of c-fos in PVN weren't reduced in all groups. And the concentration of ACTH in Plasma were significantly reduced in the A 100 group(P<0.01). The expression of TH in LC were significantly reduced in the A 400, B 100 and B400 groups(P<0.05~P<0.01). Conclusion：Mixture of Citri Peticulatae Viride Pericarpium and Lycii Radicis Cortex has antidepressant effects. But the difference between mixing and extracting methods was not shown.Key words：Mixture of Citri Peticulatae Viride Pericarpium and Lycii Radicis Cortex, FST, HPA Axis system, Catecholaminergic system, antidepressant.