姜黄素对慢性应激大鼠不同脑区促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子表达的影响

目的为探讨姜黄素可能的抗抑郁作用机制,观察姜黄素对慢性应激大鼠不同脑区促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子(CRF)表达的影响。方法采用不同应激方式交替、持续应激20d,制成大鼠慢性应激损伤模型,用开野实验、逆转录聚合酶链反应测定大鼠给姜黄素(2.5,5和10mg·kg-1,po,每日1次,共21d)前后行为的改变以及下丘脑、海马及额叶皮质中CRFmRNA的表达。结果慢性应激模型组大鼠在开野实验中5min内穿越格数、探究次数均显著减少;给予姜黄素后,应激大鼠穿越格数、探究次数均较应激对照组不同程度的增加。慢性应激模型组大鼠下丘脑、海马和额叶皮质中CRFmRNA表达均较正常对照组明显升高;姜黄素可以明显逆转上述脑区CRFmRNA表达的改变。结论姜黄素对慢性应激大鼠的活动性有明显的改善作用,这一作用很可能与逆转慢性应激大鼠不同脑区的CRFmRNA的异常表达有关。

Effect of curcumin on corticotropin-releasing factor mRNA expression in brain regions of chronic stress-exposed rats

AIM To investigate the antidepressant mechanism of curcumin, the effects of curcumin on the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) expression in chronically stressed rats were studied. METHODS Rats were subjected to chronic stresses of different types alternatively for successive 20 d， the behavioral changes and the CRF expressions before or after curcumin treatment （2.5, 5 and 10 mg·kg^-1, po, once a day for 21 d）in the hypothalamus, hippocampus and frontal cortex were determined by open field test and the RT-PCR method respectively. RESULTS Chronic stress induced a decrease of the number of ambulation and rearing, compared with control group. Curcumin increased the number of ambulation and rearing. There were significant increases of CRF mRNA expressions in the hypothalamus, hippocampus and cortex in the chronically stressed group as compared with control group, whereas curcumin significantly reversed these changes. CONCLUSION Curcumin significantly improves the activity of chronically stressed rats, which may have relationship with reversing the abnormal expression of CRF mRNA in different regions of these rats.