Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of Ning Shen Ling Granule (宁神灵冲剂) and dehydroepiandrosterone on cognitive function in mice undergoing chronic mild stress

  • Experimental Research
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the changes of spontaneous and cognitive behavior, and cholinergic M receptors in the brain of mice subjected to chronic mild stress (CMS), and to determine the effect of Ning Shen Ling Granule (宁神灵冲剂, NSL) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on them.

Methods

CMS model mice were established by applying stress every day for 3 consecutive weeks with 7 kinds of unforeseeable stress sources, and they were medicated for 1 week beginning at the 3rd week of modeling. The changes in behavior were determined by Morris Water Maze and spontaneous movement test, and M-receptor binding activity in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus were measured by radioactive ligand assay with 3H-QNB.

Results

(1) The spontaneous movement in CMS model mice was significantly reduced, with the latency for searching platform in Morris Water Maze obviously prolonged (P<0.01), and these abnormal changes in behavior were improved in those treated with NSL and DHEA. (2) The binding ability of M-receptor in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of CMS mice was significantly decreased as compared with those in the control group (P<0.05), but could be restored to the normal level after intervention with NSL or DHEA.

Conclusion

The decline of spontaneous movement and spatial learning and memory ability could be induced in animals by chronic mild stress, and that may be related to the low activity of central cholinergic M-receptors. Both NSL and DHEA could effectively alleviate the above-mentioned changes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kang DW, ZR, Zhu WL, et al. Effects of Chaihujialonggumuli decoction on activity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in depression model. Chin J Clin Pharmacol Ther 2005;10(11): 1231–1235.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Zhang YZ, Nie HM, Hu YL, et al. Behavior study on Chaihu plus Longgu Muli Decoction treat in melancholia mouse model. Chin J Basic Med Tradit Chin Med 2003; 7(7): 30–32.

    Google Scholar 

  3. He YM, Du SL. Advancement in research on antidepressant of TCM. Hunan Guiding J Tradit Chin Med Pharmacol 2003; 9(6): 71–73.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kroboth PD, Salek FS, Pittenger AL, et al. DHEA and DHEA-S: a review. J Clin Pharmaco 1999; 39: 327–348.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bao L, Yang N, Liu YY, et al. Effects of dehydroepianddrosterone on cognitive function in mice with chronic mild stress. Chin J Clin Pharmacol Ther 2004; 9(2): 153–156.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Morris R. Developments of a water maze procedure for studying spatial learning in the rat. J Neurosci Methods 1984; 11: 47–60.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Willner P, Muscat R, Papp M. Chronic mild stress-induced anhedonia: a realistic animal model of depression. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 1992;16: 525–534.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Miller GE, Cohen S, Herbert TB. Pathways linking major depression and immunity in ambulatory female patients. Psychosomatic Med 1999; 61: 850–860.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Bloch M, Schmidt PJ, Danaceeau MA, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone treatment of midlife dysthymia. Biol Psychiatry 1999; 45: 1533–1541.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Murphy BE. Steroids and depression. J Steriod Biochem Mol Bio 1991; 38: 537–59.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Baulieu EE, Thomas G, Legrain S, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate, and aging: contribution of the DHEA Study to a socio-biomedical issue. Proc Natl Acad Sci 2000;97: 4279–4284.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Majewska MD. Neurosteroids: endogenous bimodal modulators of GABA-A receptor. Mechanism of action and physiological significance. Prog Neurobiol 1992;38: 379–395.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Chen, W. Chaihu plus Longgu Muli Decoction in treatment of depressive neurosis. Shaanxi Chin Med 1984;12: 41–43.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Ding SM. Guizhi Gancao Longgu Decoction in patients with neurosis: a report of 38 cases. Hubei J Chin Med 1983;1: 11–13.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China

    Zhang Xiao  (张潇), Dong Yi-long  (董毅龙), Yang Nan  (杨楠), Liu Yan-yong  (刘雁勇), Gao Rui-feng  (高瑞丰) & Zuo Ping-ping  (左萍萍)

Authors
  1. Zhang Xiao  (张潇)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dong Yi-long  (董毅龙)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yang Nan  (杨楠)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Liu Yan-yong  (刘雁勇)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Gao Rui-feng  (高瑞丰)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Zuo Ping-ping  (左萍萍)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zuo Ping-ping  (左萍萍).

Additional information

Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973) (NoG2000057000)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zhang, X., Dong, Yl., Yang, N. et al. Effects of Ning Shen Ling Granule (宁神灵冲剂) and dehydroepiandrosterone on cognitive function in mice undergoing chronic mild stress. Chin. J Integ. Med. 13, 46–49 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-007-0046-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-007-0046-4

Key words

Search

Navigation