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A preliminary study on the effects of Xiaoyao San on neurological function and 5-HT2A mRNA expression in mice with Tourette syndrome

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Abstract

Background

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a chronic neuropsychiatric disorder, also known as multiple tic syndrome. TS is associated with the serotonin (5-HT) system, of which 5-HT2A is a subtype. Xiaoyao San (XYS) comes from “Prescriptions of the Bureau of Taiping People’s Welfare”. It has the effect of harmonizing liver and spleen, relieving depression, nourishing blood, and invigorating spleen. However, the therapeutic mechanism of XYS for TS has not been evaluated. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of XYS on the TS mouse model and its possible mechanism.

Methods

A mouse model of TS induced by DOI (selective 5-HT (2A/2C) receptor agonist, 10 ml/kg) was established. The mice were randomly divided into normal control group, DOI group, DOI + Tiapride Hydrochloride (Tia at 25 mg /kg) group, DOI + XYS low-dose (1.44 g/kg/d), medium-dose (2.88 g/kg/d) and high-dose (5.76 g/kg/d) groups, and the mice were given the corresponding drug intragastric administration for four consecutive weeks, and the stereotypic behavior was recorded weekly. The morphological characteristics of the cells were observed by hematoxylin–eosin staining. The content of 5-HT was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to detect 5-HT2A.

Results

XYS could significantly improve the stereotypic behavior of TS mice, and the improvement effect increased with the increase of dose, the improvement effect of XYS high dose was similar to that of Tia. After Tia or XYS high-dose treatment, the prefrontal cortex cells and neuronal structure of TS mice gradually normal, cells arranged neatly. The prefrontal cortex cells recovered generally after XYS low-dose and medium-dose treatments. 5-HT in the serum of mice in all treatment groups was higher than that in the DOI group, and 5-HT in serum of XYS high-dose group and Tia group was the highest. 5-HT2A receptor protein and mRNA in the prefrontal cortex of mice in all treatment groups showed a downward trend, and the decrease degree was the largest in the XYS high-dose group and Tia group.

Conclusion

XYS has an improvement effect on TS in mice, and its mechanism is related to reducing 5-HT2A receptor expression, increasing 5-HT content, and enhancing 5-HT system activity. These results suggest that XYS is a therapeutic strategy for TS treatment.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the present study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Children’s Rehabilitation, Cangzhou Hospital of Integrated TCM-WM Hebei, No.5, Xianghai Road, High-Tech Zone, Cangzhou City, 061000, Hebei Province, China

    Xingyue Liu & Guoyun Cao

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  1. Xingyue Liu
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  2. Guoyun Cao
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Contributions

Xingyue Liu designed the research study. Xingyue Liu and Guoyun Cao performed the research. Xingyue Liu and Guoyun Cao provided help and advice on the experiments. Guoyun Cao analyzed the data. Xingyue Liu wrote the manuscript. Xingyue Liu and Guoyun Cao reviewed and edited the manuscript. All authors contributed to editorial changes in the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Guoyun Cao.

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Author Xingyue Liu declares that he has no conflict of interest. Author Guoyun Cao declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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The present study was approved by the Animal experiments were approved by Cangzhou Hospital of Integrated TCM-WM Hebei Animal Experimental Ethics Committee. And all procedures complied with the National Institutes of Health Guide for the Use of Laboratory Animals.

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Liu, X., Cao, G. A preliminary study on the effects of Xiaoyao San on neurological function and 5-HT2A mRNA expression in mice with Tourette syndrome. Mol. Cell. Toxicol. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13273-024-00460-8

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