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  3. Purpurin exerted antidepressant-like effects on behavior and stress axis reactivity: evidence of serotonergic engagement

Purpurin exerted antidepressant-like effects on behavior and stress axis reactivity: evidence of serotonergic engagement

  • Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2020 Mar;237(3):887-899. doi: 10.1007/s00213-019-05422-w.
Li Ma 1,  Pei Hu 2,  Junfang Zhang 3,  Wugeng Cui 4,  Xin Zhao 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Neurology, Jingzhou Central Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei Province, China.
  • 2 Department of Vasculocardiology, Jingzhou Central Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei Province, China.
  • 3 Department of Pharmacology, Ningbo University, School of Medical Science, Ningbo, China.
  • 4 Department of Pharmacology, Ningbo University, School of Medical Science, Ningbo, China. cuiwugeng@nbu.edu.cn.
  • 5 Department of Pharmacology, Ningbo University, School of Medical Science, Ningbo, China. zhaoxin@nbu.edu.cn.
PMID: 31900524 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05422-w
Abstract

Rationale and objectives: Major depression represents a significant public health problem worldwide, and effective regimen is lacking. The present study investigated the antidepressant-like effects of purpurin, a natural anthraquinone compound from Rubia tinctorum L., and explored the underlying mechanism(s).

Methods: Forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) were used to assess antidepressant-like effects of purpurin in mice. Effects of purpurin on neuroendocrine responsivity were evaluated at the level of corticosterone and ACTH following acute restraint stress and intracerebroventricular injection of corticotrophin-releasing-factor (CRF). Serotonergic mechanisms underlying purpurin antidepressant effect were explored using biochemical, neurochemical, and pharmacological paradigms.

Results: Chronic purpurin treatment exerted in mice dose-dependently antidepressant-like effects on behavior and stress axis reactivity (n = 9-11 per group). The purpurin-triggered antidepressant-like effects are serotonergically dependent, since purpurin-treated mice showed escalated levels of brain serotonin and suppressed Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) activity (n = 8-11 per group). Consistently, chemical depletion of brain serotonin by p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) abolished the antidepressant-like effects of purpurin on behavior and stress axis responsivity (n = 9-10 per group). Moreover, the antidepressant effect by purpurin was preferentially counteracted by 1A-selective 5-HT Receptor Antagonist WAY-100635, but potentiated by 1A-selective agonist 8-OH-DPAT and sub-effective dose of serotonergic antidepressant fluoxetine (n = 9-11 per group), suggesting a crucial role for 5-HT1A related serotonergic system in mediating such purpurin antidepressant effect.

Conclusion: We have revealed the antidepressant-like effects of purpurin on both behavior and stress axis reactivity in mice, with serotonergic system that preferentially couples with 5-HT1A receptors being critically engaged.

Keywords

Antidepressant-like effect; Purpurin; Serotonin; Stress.

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