Tian-Xiao Wang1, Hao-Hua Wei2, Ze-Ka Chen1, Wei-Min Qu3, Zhi-Li Huang4. 1. Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. 2. Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. 3. Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. quweimin@fudan.edu.cn. 4. Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. huangzl@fudan.edu.cn.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Zao Ren An Shen capsule (ZRASC) which is composed of three kinds of traditional Chinese herbs is a popular Chinese medicine for the treatment of insomnia. This study investigated the hypnotic effect of ZRASC in an anxiety-like mouse model. METHODS: We determined the role of ZRASC in anxiety and co-morbid insomnia using electroencephalogram and electromyogram recordings. Anxiety-like behaviors were tested by using the open-field, light/dark box, or elevated plus-maze in mice. Immunohistochemical techniques were employed to reveal the mechanism by which ZRASC regulated anxiety and insomnia. RESULTS: ZRASC at 680 mg/kg prolonged the time spent in the central area, open arms area, and light box by 1.9, 2.3, and 1.7-fold respectively, compared with the vehicle control group in immobilization stress (IMS) mice. ZRASC at 680 mg/kg given at 08:00 h increased the amount of non-rapid eye movement sleep by 1.4-fold in a 2-h period after dosing in IMS mice. However, it did not alter the sleep-wake behaviors in normal mice. Immunohistochemistry showed that IMS increased c-Fos expression in the neurons of the stria terminalis and tuberomammillary nucleus by 1.8 and 1.6-fold, respectively. In addition, ZRASC (680 mg/kg) reversed the IMS-induced c-Fos expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that ZRASC is an effective therapeutic strategy for both anxiety disorder and sleep disturbances in an anxiety-like mouse model.
PURPOSE: Zao Ren An Shen capsule (ZRASC) which is composed of three kinds of traditional Chinese herbs is a popular Chinese medicine for the treatment of insomnia. This study investigated the hypnotic effect of ZRASC in an anxiety-like mouse model. METHODS: We determined the role of ZRASC in anxiety and co-morbid insomnia using electroencephalogram and electromyogram recordings. Anxiety-like behaviors were tested by using the open-field, light/dark box, or elevated plus-maze in mice. Immunohistochemical techniques were employed to reveal the mechanism by which ZRASC regulated anxiety and insomnia. RESULTS: ZRASC at 680 mg/kg prolonged the time spent in the central area, open arms area, and light box by 1.9, 2.3, and 1.7-fold respectively, compared with the vehicle control group in immobilization stress (IMS) mice. ZRASC at 680 mg/kg given at 08:00 h increased the amount of non-rapid eye movement sleep by 1.4-fold in a 2-h period after dosing in IMS mice. However, it did not alter the sleep-wake behaviors in normal mice. Immunohistochemistry showed that IMS increased c-Fos expression in the neurons of the stria terminalis and tuberomammillary nucleus by 1.8 and 1.6-fold, respectively. In addition, ZRASC (680 mg/kg) reversed the IMS-induced c-Fos expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that ZRASC is an effective therapeutic strategy for both anxiety disorder and sleep disturbances in an anxiety-like mouse model.
Authors: Todd E Anthony; Nick Dee; Amy Bernard; Walter Lerchner; Nathaniel Heintz; David J Anderson Journal: Cell Date: 2014-01-30 Impact factor: 41.582
Authors: Erika E Forbes; Michele A Bertocci; Alice M Gregory; Neal D Ryan; David A Axelson; Boris Birmaher; Ronald E Dahl Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2008-02 Impact factor: 8.829