Research of Compatible Ratio of Kai-Xin-San on Regulation of Neurotrophic Factor System in Cortex and Hippocampus on Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Induced Depressive Mice

OBJECTIVE To explore the anti-depressive effect of Kai-Xin-San (KXS) with different compatible ratio on chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) treated mouse via neurotrophic factor regulation. METHODS Depressive animal model was created by applying a series of stress procedures on mice and the depressive mice were treated with KXS with different compatible ratio. Several parameters， including sucrose consumption， forced swimming time， were applied for evaluation of the depressive effect of KXS. Afterwards， the mice were sacrificed. The cerebral cortex and hippocampus were took out for the analysis of quantity of neurotrophic factors and the expressions of neurotrophic factor receptors via ELISA， qPCR and western blot analysis. RESULTS KXS with different compatible ratio exerted significant anti-depressive effect on CUMS treated depressive mouse model in presence of increased sucrose consumption， swimming time and open field scores. The amount of neurotrophic factors， NGF and BDNF， and the expression of the corresponding receptors， were both up-regulated after the treatment of KXS. One ratio named D-652 exerted the best effect. CONCLUSION Neurotrophic factor regulation might be one of important active targets for anti-depression effect of KXS.