Mechanism of Xiao Yao San influences concentration of Ca2+ intracellular in cultured rat hippocampal neurons in the state of chronic stress

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of Xiao Yao San on intracellular Ca2 + concentration in cultured rat hippocampal neurons in the state of chronic stress and study the mechanism of chronic stress injuring and XiaoYao San protecting. Methods MK-801 acts as tool,cultured rat hippocampal neurons were divided into seven groups, those were group 1 (control), group 2 (normal serum), group 3 (normal serum + Glu), group 4 (model serum + Glu), group 5 (model serum + Glu + MK-801), group 6 (Xiaoyaosan + Glu), group 7 (Xiaoyaosan + Glu + MK-801). to detect intracellular Ca2+ concentration in cultured hippocampal neurons in the simulated micro - environment of chronic stress and after intervention with the serum treated with Xiao Yao San by confocal laser microscope at the same period of time. Results Compared with group 1 (779.97 ± 36.81), concentration of Ca2+ intracellular of group 2 (1092.38 ± 36.41), group 3 (1472.49 ± 76. 19), group 4 (1509.52 ±104.69) and group 5 (1186.97 ±41.92) all increased significantly (P＜0.01) ,group 6 (908.74 ±40.24) increased too (P ＜ 0.05), compared with group 2, concentration of Ca2 + intracellular of group 3,4 and 5 all increased significantly (P ＜ 0.01), but group 7 (721.99 ± 60.33) decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.01). Compared with group 4, concentration of Ca2+ intracellular of group 6 and 7 decreased significantly (P＜ 0.01), group 5 decreased too (P ＜ 0.05), compared with group 6, concentration of Ca2 + intracellular of group 5 increased significantly (P ＜ 0.01),when group 7 decreased significantly (P＜0.01). Conclusion Serum of chronic stress treated with Xiao Yao San has the effect of inhibiting Ca2+ overload in hippocampal neurons,it may work through a variety of signaling pathways including Glu-NR-Ca2+ to maintain the steady-state of Ca2+ concentration in hippocampal neurons, and then to protect neurons from the neurotoxic effects of excitatory. Key words: Xiao Yao San; Chronic stress; Rats; Hippocampal neurons; Ca2+