OBJECTIVE  To explore the effects of Yueju Pill on depression and gastrointestinal function in depressed co-morbid functional dyspepsia mice.

  METHODS  C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, Yueju Pill low-dose group, Yueju Pill high-dose group and positive drug group. A co-morbidity model was constructed using chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), and the mice were assessed for depression-like behaviour and neuronal damage by behavioural tests and Nissl staining; gastrointestinal function was assessed by HE staining of gastric and intestinal tissues, gastric emptying rate, and small intestinal propulsive rate; PACAP, VIP, IL-6, TNF-α, and BDNF expression were detected by ELISA; PAC1-R, Vipr1, and Vipr2 protein expression were detected by protein immunoblotting.

  RESULTS  Mice in the model group showed depression-like behaviour, reduced number of hippocampal nidus, slowed gastrointestinal motility, elevated serum inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and reduced expression of PACAP, VIP, and BDNF (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), The PAC1-R, VPAC1-R, VPAC2-R expression decreased in the hippocampus and gastric sinus, duodenal tissue (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the low and high dose groups of Yueju Pill improved the above indexes except for Vipr1 and Vipr2 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

  CONCLUSION  Yueju Pill can reduce inflammatory factors through PACAP/PAC1-R, increase the level of BDNF, and improve the depression-like behaviour and gastrointestinal dysfunction in CUMS mice.