Cryptotanshinone ameliorates CUS-induced depressive-like behaviors in mice

Objectives: Cryptotanshinone (CPT), a natural quinoid diterpene, isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza, has shown various pharmacological properties. However, its effect on chronic unpredictable stress (CUS)-induced depression phenotypes and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether CPT could exert an antidepressant effect. Methods: We investigated the effects of CPT in a CUS-induced depression model and explored whether these effects were related to the anti-inflammatory and neurogenesis promoting properties by investigating the expression levels of various signaling molecules at the mRNA and protein levels. Results: Administration of CPT improved depression-like behaviors in CUS-induced mice. CPT administration increased the levels of doublecortin-positive cells and reversed the decrease in the expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) signaling transduction, as well as the downstream functional proteins, phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinases (p-ERK), and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-response element-binding protein levels (p-CREB) in hippocampus. CPT treatment also inhibited the activation of microglia and suppressed M1 microglial polarization, while promoting M2 microglial polarization by monitoring the expression levels of arginase 1 (Arg-1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and further inhibited the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and increased the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 by regulating nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation. Conclusions: CPT relieves the depressive-like state in CUS-induced mice by enhancing neurogenesis and inhibiting inflammation through the BDNF/TrkB and NF-κB pathways and could therefore serve as a promising candidate for the treatment of depression.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Cryptotanshinone ameliorates CUS-induced depressive-like behaviors in mice ; volume:12 ; number:1 ; year:2021 ; pages:469-481 ; extent:13 ; Translational Neuroscience ; 12, Heft 1 (2021), 469-481 (gesamt 13)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Wang, Kaixin ; Zhai, Qingling ; Wang, Sanwang ; Li, Qiongyu ; Liu, Jing ; Meng, Fantao ; Wang, Wentao ; Zhang, Jinjie ; Wang, Dan ; Zhao, Di ; Liu, Cuilan ; Dai, Juanjuan ; Li, Chen ; Cui, Minghu ; Chen, Jinbo

Further information

• DOI: 10.1515/tnsci-2020-0198
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2022082914385509543464
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:39 AM CEST