Xiangshao granule exerts antidepressive effects in a depression mouse model by ameliorating deficits in hippocampal BDNF and TrkB

This study explores the therapeutic effects of Xiangshao granules in a mouse depression model and examines the potential molecular mechanisms involved. After 21 consecutive days of chronic stress challenge, all mice were divided into three groups: control group, depression group, and Xiangshao granule treatment group. On the 22nd day, rats in the Xiangshao granule treatment group received Xiangshao granules via gastrogavage for 3 consecutive weeks. Depression group mice showed a significant reduction of crossings (P <0.01) but not rearings (P <0.05). Serum CRH, CORT, and ACTH levels were significantly increased in depression mice compared with control (P <0.05) and the expression levels of hippocampal BDNF and TrkB were reduced in the model group (P <0.05). However, Xiangshao granule treatment remarkably rescued the decrease in the body weight (P <0.05), increased crossings in the open field test (P <0.05), upregulated the expression of hippocampal BDNF and TrkB expression, and reduced the serum CRH, CORT, and ACTH concentrations compared with the depression group (P <0.05). Collectively, these results demonstrated that Xiangshao granule could effectively induce antidepressive effects in the depression mouse model by ameliorating the expression of hippocampal BDNF and TrkB.