Exploring a need for improved preclinical models of post-stroke depression

Pharmacological Study on Total Glycosides of Xiebai Protecting against Depression Model

Objective

To observe the effect of total glycosides of Xiebai on chronic unpredictable stimuli in rats. Changes of serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serum corticosterone (CORT), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), organ index, and histopathology in brain tissue, to explore the treatment and characteristics of total white glucosides in depression model, were prepared by different stimuli in 21 days.

Methods

Depression models were replicated by 21 days of chronic mild stimulation in rats. Finally, the levels of CORT and ACTH in the serum of rats with depression model and the levels of NE, DA, and 5-HT in brain homogenates were determined. The thymus and spleen wet weight of each group were measured, and the organ index was calculated. The thymus and pituitary were observed under the light microscope. Pathological changes of the hypothalamus, adrenal gland, and spleen and behavioral indexes of rats in each group were determined.

Results

The results of the experiment showed that 21 days of chronic unpredictable stimulation significantly improved the behavioral response of the model group, and the levels of corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone in the serum and the indicators in the brain homogenate significantly changed, affecting the relevant tissues. The index changes and the results of the combination can prove that this modeling method can be used for the preparation of depression models. The total white glucoside group can significantly improve the above effects, demonstrating that total glucosides of glucoside have a good therapeutic effect on the rat model of depression.

Conclusion

The chronic unpredictability of the total dose of Xiebai glycosides can significantly improve the levels of NE and DA and the levels of serum CORT and ACTH in the brain homogenate of depressive model rats and improve the immune function of the body.

Regional brain structural abnormality in ischemic stroke patients: a voxel-based morphometry study

Our previous study used regional homogeneity analysis and found that activity in some brain areas of patients with ischemic stroke changed significantly. In the current study, we examined structural changes in these brain regions by taking structural magnetic resonance imaging scans of 11 ischemic stroke patients and 15 healthy participants, and analyzing the data using voxel-based morphometry. Compared with healthy participants, patients exhibited higher gray matter density in the left inferior occipital gyrus and right anterior white matter tract. In contrast, gray matter density in the right cerebellum, left precentral gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, and left middle temporal gyrus was less in ischemic stroke patients. The changes of gray matter density in the middle frontal gyrus were negatively associated with the clinical rating scales of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment (r = -0.609, P = 0.047) and the left middle temporal gyrus was negatively correlated with the clinical rating scales of the nervous functional deficiency scale (r = -0.737, P = 0.010). Our findings can objectively identify the functional abnormality in some brain regions of ischemic stroke patients.