LPS로 유발된 우울증에 대한 甘草의 효과

Abstract

Objectives : Investigation of the antidepressant effect of Glycyrrhizae Radix (GR) through the anti-inflammatory effect. Methods : Depression in rats was induced by LPS (i,p.3days). The rats were treated with GR100 mg/kg (GR 100) or GR400 mg/kg (GR 400). The depressive immobility was examined with Tail Suspension Test(TST) and Forced Swimming Test(FST). The expression of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB), IκB was measured with western blotting. The concentration of corticosterone, cytokine in plasma was measured with ELISA. The expression of c-Fos in the paraventricular nucleus(PVN) and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) in the locus coeluleus(LC) were measured with immunostaining method. Results : In the TST, GR400 group significantly decreased immobility time compared with the LPS group. In the FST, GR100, GR400 group significantly decreased immobility time comparing with the LPS group. c-Fos expression in GR100 and GR400 group was decreased comparing with the lipoplysaccharide(LPS) group. The IκB expression of GR100 and GR400 group was increased comparing with the LPS group. The level of corticosterone of GR100 group was decreased comparing with the LPS group. The concentration of cytokine of GR100 and GR400 group was decreased comparing with the LPS group. TH expression in the LC was increased in LPS group, but in GR100 and GR400 group was not shown significant decrease. Conclusion : According to this results obtained, GR has antidepressant effects by the anti inflammatory action through the suppression of HPA axis activity, not through the aciton against the catecholaminergic system.