Effect of Shenqi Jieyu formula on inflammatory response pathway in hippocampus of postpartum depression rats

Li Jingya; Linhong Song; Lu Lu; Qing Zhang; Weijun Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29978

Effect of Shenqi Jieyu formula on inflammatory response pathway in hippocampus of postpartum depression rats

Heliyon. 2024 Apr 30;10(9):e29978. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29978. eCollection 2024 May 15.

Authors

Li Jingya¹, Linhong Song², Lu Lu², Qing Zhang¹, Weijun Zhang¹

Affiliations

¹ The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University(Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), 54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310000, PR China.
² Affiliated Qingdao Central Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, PR China.

Abstract

Aim: To investigate whether SJF functions in similar manner as the key substance in the inflammatory process, soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitor, to inhibit the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway and nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB) signal path in the hippocampi of postpartum depression rats.

Methods: The rats were subcutaneous injected estradiol benzoate and progesterone to build PPD rat model. SJF, paroxetine hydrochloride and sEH inhibitor (AUDA) were used to treat PPD rats for 3 weeks. Then the morphological changes of hippocampi and various proteins were observed after that behavioral test were conducted in all 36 SD rats in six group: SJF, paroxetine, AUDA, PPD, sham and normal group.

Results: Weight, results of sucrose preference, upright times, total and center squares crossing decreased significantly (P < 0.01), whereas immobility time increased (P < 0.01). Results above were reversed in animals that in the SJF, paroxetine and AUDA groups. Hippocampal neurons in PPD rats partially degenerated with narrowed nuclei, increased autophagy and mitochondria bound to lysosomes were visible while the autophagy of hippocampal neurons in the paroxetine and AUDA group decreased, with a small amount of lysosomes. sEH, COX-2, 5-LOX, TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, NF-κB p65, and Cor increased in hippocampi of PPD rats while EETs and 5-HT decreased. Protein expressions of Ibal, GFAP, p-IκBα, p65, and p-p65(S536)increased in PPD animals. Those changes were reversed by SJF, paroxetine and AUDA. Gene expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, 5-LOX, COX-2 and p65 increased in PPD rats and the changes of expression in these genes were reversed by paroxetine and AUDA. SJF reversed the gene expression changes of COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-1β.

Conclusion: SJF may have an analogous effect as sEH inhibitor to relieve depressive symptoms by suppressing inflammatory signaling pathways in hippocampi of PPD rats, which involves AA metabolic pathway and NF-κB signal pathway.

Keywords: Animal model; Arachidonic acid metabolic pathway; Chinese herbs; Nuclear factor kappa-B; Postpartum depression; Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor.