Asperosaponin VI ameliorates the CMS-induced depressive-like behaviors by inducing a neuroprotective microglial phenotype in hippocampus via PPAR-γ pathway.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The natural compound asperosaponin VI has shown potential as an antidepressant, but how it works is unclear. Here, we explored its effects on mice exposed to chronic mild stress (CMS) and the underlying molecular pathways.

Methods

Mice were exposed to CMS for 3 weeks followed by asperosaponin VI (40 mg/kg) or imipramine (20 mg/kg) for another 3 weeks. Depression-like behaviors were assessed in the forced swimming test (FST), sucrose preference test (SPT), tail suspension test (TST). Microglial phenotypes were evaluated using immunofluorescence staining, real-time quantitative PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in hippocampus of mice. In some experiments, stressed animals were treated with the PPAR-γ antagonist GW9662 to examine its involvement in the effec

SUBMITTER: Jiang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9131532 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature