Effects of Jieyu-Chufan capsule on the behavior and the level of cerebral monoamine neurotransmitter in depression mouse model

Objective To observe the effects of Jieyu-Chufan capsule(JCC) on the behavior and the monoamine neurotransmitter content of cerebral in depression mouse model and explore its mechanism. Methods The ICR male mouse were randomly divided into seven groups according to their weights(the model group, the low, middle and high doses group, Baiyoujie group, the amitriptyline group, the normal control group). The low, middle and high doses group were given JCC with 1.250, 2.500, 5.000 g/kg separately by intragastric administration. Baiyoujie group was given 0.014 g/kg Baiyoujie by gavage. The amitriptyline group was given 0.050 g/kg amitriptyline by gavage. The model group and the normal control group received the same volume of distilled water intragastrically. The drugs were administrated once a day. The brepharoptosis and movement conditions of mouse were observed after 22 days. The monoamine neurotransmitter content of each group was measured after 25 days. Results Compared to the model group, the number of mouse with brepharoptosis decreased in the high dose group after 1, 2, 6 hour with reserpine injection (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the number of mouse came out from the circle increased after 4 hours with reserpine injection (P<0.05 or P<0.01);the content of NA (880.45 ± 428.81 ng/g, 875.98 ± 449.33 ng/g vs. 299.92 ± 267.08 ng/g) and DA (2 305.99 ± 530.37 ng/g, 2 169.99 ± 278.19 ng/g vs. 1 439.34 ± 357.33 ng/g) in the middle and high dose group increased (P<0.01); the content of 5-HT (781.43 ± 135.10 ng/g vs. 492.01 ± 192.80 ng/g) in the middle group increased (P<0.01). Conclusions JCC showed an antidepression influence in depression mouse model induced by reserpine. The mechanism may be related to regulating the level of monoamine neurotransmitter in the nervous centralis . Key words: Depression; Norepinephrine; Dopamine; Jieyu-Chufan capsule; Mice