Shuyu capsule alleviates premenstrual depression via allopregnanolone metabolic pathway targeting GABA (A) receptors δ subunit in the hippocampus

To reveal the exact changes of allopregnanolone-mediated γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor pathways and its specific therapeutic targets by Shuyu Capsule treating premenstrual depression, female Wistar rat models of premenstrual depression was established by Forced swimming test (FST). Behavioral tests, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), interference knockdown adenovirus, and overexpressed vector adenovirus of GABAARδ, RT-qPCR, Western-Blot, and immunohistochemical detecting expressions were applied to identify the therapeutic targets. FST-based rat model indicated that Shuyu capsules alleviated typical premenstrual depression and may regulate alternations of 5α-reductase and 3α-steroid dehydrogenase, enhancing the metabolic pathway of progesterone to allopregnanolone, as well as targeting the GABAARδ subunit, thereby alleviating premenstrual depression of PMDD rat models.