Primary research on the mechanisms of Xiaoyao powder influences hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis of chronic stress rats

Abstract

Objective To observe the mechanisms that Xiaoyao powder influences the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis of chronic-stress rats. Methods Chronic stress rats were as researching object,and RU-38486 acted as tool drugs. The serum-GC density of rats were tested with ELISA,and the glucocortcoid(GR) in hippocampus neuron were tested with immunofluorescence,the CRH mRNA in hypothalamus were tested by in situ hybridization (ISH). Results Compared with normal group ( 1.09 ± 0.11 ;0.57 ± 0.10), the expression of GR in hippocampus of model group decreased(0.65 ± 0. 10; P ＜ 0. 01 ), and the expression of CRH mRNA in hypothalamus of model group increased ( 1.12 ±0. 11; P＜0. 0l ) ,the GR in hippocampus of RU-38486 group increased ( 1.59 ± 0. 11; P ＜ 0. 01 ), and the expression of CRH mRNA in hypothalamus of RU-38486 group reduced (0.48±0.10; P＜0.05) ,but both the expression of GR in hippocampus and the CRH mRNA in hypothalamus of Xiaoyao powder group were no change (0.62 ±0.08;0.97 ±0.13; P＞0.05). Compared with model group,both the expression of GR in hippocampus of RU-38486 and Xiaoyao powder group increased (P＜0. 01) ,and both the expression of CRH mRNA in hypothalamus of RU-38486 and Xiaoyao powder group reduced (P＜0.01). Conclusion Multi-stress can result in the expression of GR in hippocampus of rats decreasing and the expression of CRH mRNA in hypothalamus increasing, but those changes can be restrained by Xiaoyao powder, and it is the maybe mechanism of Xiaoyao Powder resisting chronic stress in HPA axis. Key words: Xiaoyao powder; Chronic stress; Hippocampal; Glucocortcoid receptor