Effect and Mechanism of Paeonol on Spatial Learning,Memory and Depression-Like Behavior in Rats with Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress-induced Depression

doi:10.3870/j.issn.1672-8009.2026.04.009

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To analyze the effect of paeonol on spatial learning,memory and depression-like behavior in rats with chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)-induced depression,and to explore its mechanism. Methods The CUMS-induced depression rats were divided into 5 groups:depression group,low-dose,medium-dose and high-dose paeonol groups and Flu group,and the control group was set up.Drug intervention was administered during the third week of stress and continued for one week;rats in the control group received no treatment.The Morris water maze,sucrose preference test,forced swimming test(FST)and tail suspension test(TST)were conducted.The levels of serum CRH,ACTH and CORT,and the expression levels of ERK/CREB proteins in hippocampus were detected. Results Compared with those in the control group,the sucrose preference of rats in the depression group was declined(P<0.05),the escape latency was prolonged,the times of platform crossings and residence time in the third quadrant were decreased(P<0.05),the immobility time in the FST and TST was increased(P<0.05),the levels of serum CRH,ACTH and CORT were increased(P<0.05),and ratios of p-ERK/ERK and p-CREB/CREB in the hippocampus were decreased(P<0.05).Compared with those in the depression group,the above indexes were significantly reversed in rats of the medium- and high-dose paeonol groups and the Flu group(P<0.05). Conclusion Paeonol can improve spatial learning,memory ability and depression-like behavior in rats with CUMS-induced depression,and the mechanism is related to regulation of HPA and ERK/CREB signaling pathways.

Key words: depression, chronic unpredictable mild stress, paeonol, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, cAMP-response element binding protein

CLC Number:

R285.5

LI Wei, BI Fan, WANG Kai, ZENG Yun, GUO Zhiwei. Effect and Mechanism of Paeonol on Spatial Learning,Memory and Depression-Like Behavior in Rats with Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress-induced Depression[J]. Journal of Medical Molecular Biology, 2026, 23(4): 431-436.

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