US EPA

4455485 

Journal Article 

Wuling powder prevents the depression-like behavior in learned helplessness mice model through improving the TSPO mediated-mitophagy 

Li, D; Zheng, J; Wang, M; Feng, L; Liu, Y; Yang, N; Zuo, P 

2016 

Yes 

Journal of Ethnopharmacology
ISSN: 0378-8741 

186 

181-188 

English 

27063986 

10.1016/j.jep.2016.03.065 

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Wuling powder (trade name: Wuling capsule), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), was extracted from mycelia of precious Xylaria Nigripes (Kl.) Sacc by modern fermentation technology, and has been claimed to be fully potent in improving the signs of insomnia and cognitive deficits. Moreover, Wuling capsule was effective in treating post-stroke and orther co-cormbid depression both in clinical and in basic research. In order to clarify the molecular mechanisms of the antidepressant effect of Wuling powder, we established learned helplessness (LH) depression animal model and focused on 18kDa translocator protein (TSPO) mediated-mitophagy pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were exposed to the inescapable e-shock (IS) once a day for three consecutive days to establish the LH model. Then mice were orally administered Wuling powder for 2 weeks. For the behavioral assessment, Shuttle box test, novelty suppressed feeding test (NSF) and forced swimming test (FST) were performed. Following the behavioral assessment, we assessed the protein expression level that were related to TSPO-mediated mitophagy signaling pathway by Western blotting analysis. Finally, immunohistochemistry method was used to assess the neuroprotective effects of Wuling powder.

RESULTS: Compared with mice that were subjected to inescapable e-shock, Wuling powder exhibited antidepressant effect in the multiple behavioral tests. In addition, Wuling powder altered the expression level of multiple proteins related to TSPO-mediated mitophagy signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that Wuling powder exhibited an obvious antidepressant effect, which could be due to the improvement of TSPO-mediated mitophagy signaling pathway. 

animal models; antidepressants; cognitive disorders; fermentation; immunohistochemistry; mitophagy; mycelium; neuroprotective effect; oral administration; Oriental traditional medicine; protein synthesis; proteins; signal transduction; sleep disorders; swimming; Western blotting; Xylaria nigripes/