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Antidepressant-like effects of ginsenoside Rg3 in mice via activation of the hippocampal BDNF signaling cascade

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Abstract

Current antidepressants are clinically effective only after several weeks of administration. Ginsenoside Rg3 is one component of ginsenosides, with a similar chemical structure to ginsenoside Rg1. Here, we investigated the antidepressant effects of Rg3 in mouse models of depression. The antidepressant actions of Rg3 were first examined in the forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST), and then assessed in the chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) model of depression. The changes in the hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway after CSDS and Rg3 treatment were investigated. A tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor and a BDNF signaling inhibitor were also used to determine the pharmacological mechanisms of Rg3. It was found that Rg3 produced antidepressant effects in the FST and TST without affecting locomotor activity. Rg3 also prevented the CSDS-induced depressive-like symptoms. Moreover, Rg3 fully restored the CSDS-induced decrease in the hippocampal BDNF signaling pathway, and use of the BDNF signaling inhibitor blocked the antidepressant effects of Rg3. In conclusion, ginsenoside Rg3 has antidepressant effects via promotion of the hippocampal BDNF signaling pathway.

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Abbreviations

AMPK:

AMP-activated protein kinase

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

BDNF:

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor

CREB:

cAMP response element-binding protein

CSDS:

Chronic social defeat stress

FST:

Forced swimming test

MAOI:

Monoamine oxidase inhibitor

NARI:

Noradrenergic reuptake inhibitor

PCPA:

p-Chlorophenylalanine methyl ester

PI3K:

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase

SNRI:

Serotonin–noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor

SSRI:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

TCA:

Tricyclic antidepressant

TrkB:

Tropomyosin receptor kinase B

TST:

Tail suspension test

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by innovation and demonstration projects of Nantong Social Science and Technology (HS2011024) to Jianhong Shen.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Taizhou People’s Hospital, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Nantong University, No. 210 Yingchun Road, Taizhou, 225300, Jiangsu, China

      Zhengchen You, Chuanjun Chen & Luozhu Li

    2. Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China

      Qi Yao, Jianhong Shen & Zhikai Gu

    3. Department of Neurosurgery, The Sixth People’s Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China

      Hui Xu & Zhonghua Wu

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    1. Zhengchen You
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    Zhengchen You and Qi Yao contributed equally to this paper.

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    You, Z., Yao, Q., Shen, J. et al. Antidepressant-like effects of ginsenoside Rg3 in mice via activation of the hippocampal BDNF signaling cascade. J Nat Med 71, 367–379 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-016-1066-1

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