Neuroscience & Medicine
 Vol.2 No.2(2011), Article ID:5594,7 pages DOI:10.4236/nm.2011.22020

Antidepressant-Like Effect of Tetramethylpyrazine in Mice and Rats

Lijian Yu1#*, Xiaodan Jiang1, Mingneng Liao1, Rundi Ma1#, Tingxi Yu1,2#*

 

1Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China; 2Cell Biology Group, Department of Surgery, Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine and Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, USA.

Email: ywyj9578@sohu.com, yutingxi@yahoo.com

Received February 23rd, 2011; revised April 6th, 2011; accepted April 20th, 2011.

Keywords: Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), Antidepressive-Like Activity, Mice, Rats, Monoaminergic Neurotransmitter

ABSTRACT

The aim of  this study was to investigate the potential antidepressive-like effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), one of available blood-activating and stasis-eliminating components from traditional Chinese medicines, and its mechanism of the antidepressant-like action. Forced-swimming, tail-suspension, reserpine-induced hypothermia, akinesia and ptosis, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)-induced head-twitch, and potentiation of noradrenaline (NE) toxicity tests, were performed to assess the potential antidepressant-like activity of TMP and to study the mechanism by which TMP exerts the antidepressant-like action. Intragastric (ig) administration of TMP markedly reduced the duration of immobility during forced-swimming tests and tail-supension test in rats and mice. TMP partialy reversed reserpine-induced hypothermia, ptosis and akinesia, and potentiated NE toxicity in mice, and these are similar to those of clomipramine; however, TMP did not potentiate 5-HTP-induced head-twitch response (HTR) in mice, and this is different from that of fluoxetine (FLU). The present data provide evidences that TMP possesses potent antidepressant-like activity, and it might be an adrenergic component of pharmacological activity, and its mechanism of antidepressant-like action is similar to that of clomipramine, and different from that of FLU.

1. Introduction

Currently, depression is one of most significant major public health problems, and is a serious and common medical condition affecting physical health, mood, and thoughts. Major depression is characterized for symptoms at the psychological, behavioral and physiological levels. Antidepressants are commonly prescribed for depression and other affective disorders, although the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which these agents exert their therapeutic effects are not well understood. Despite the advances in the treatment of depression with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), there continue to be many unmeet clinical needs with respect to both efficacy and side effects. To address these needs, antidepressants with novel mechanisms and without side effects are in great demand.

Some medicinal plants and traditional Chinese medicines and herbs or their extracts have showed antidepressant-like effects [1-4]. Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort has the action of activating blood, regulating qi and expels wind [5]. Chuanxiongzine, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) (Figure 1), was isolated from several traditional Chinese medicines, such as Ligusticum Chuanxiong Hort, Curcuma aromatica Salisb, and Jatropya podagrica Hook [6]. TMP is colorless needle crystal, and is soluble in hot water.

TMP can inhibit L-type calcium-channel current and release of intracellular calcium store in hippocampal neuronal cells, and exerts nerve protective effect [7]. Chinese scientists have contributed a lot to its investigation, and as an available blood-activating and stasiseliminating component, it has been extensively applied to the treatment of vascular diseases of heart and brain, and obtained excellent efficiency in China [8].

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Drugs

TMP, reserpine, and clomipramine hydrochloride were

Figure 1. Chemical structure of TMP.

purchased from National Institute for the Control of Pharmaceutical and Biological Products (Beijing, China), and fluoxetine (FLU) hydrochloride was purchased from Eli Lilly and Company Limited (USA). 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) was purchased from Jinjinyao Amino Acid Co. Ltd (Tianjin, China), and NE bitartrate injection purchased from Grass Plant Technology Co. Ltd. (Xian, China).

2.2. Animals

Special pathogen free (SPF) adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) strain rats weighing 180 - 220 g and Kunming (KM) mice weighing 18 - 22 g purchased from the Experimental Animal Center of Guangdong Medical College (experimental animal license SCXKyue 2007-2008A034, No.0001909; Zhanjiang, China), were used across all the experiments. They had free access to tap water and standard laboratory food unless otherwise stated. Housing conditions were controlled, temperature was maintained at 22˚C ± 1˚C with approximately 60% relative humidity. They were kept on a reversed 12/12 h light/dark cycle (light 07:00 - 19:00 h). Animals were acclimated to the animal quarters for 1 week (for rats) or 3 days (for mice) before any experimental procedure. All the animals were treated in compliance with “Guidance Suggestion for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” issued by The Ministry of Science and Technology of People’s Republic of China.

2.3. Forced-Swimming Test

Measurement of immobility time was carried out by observing the motoric activity of the mice or rats, which were placed in a pool of water. A glass cylinder, 15 cm (for mice) or 30 cm (for rats) in diameter, height 20 cm (for mice) or 40 cm (for rats), was filled with water to a height of 12 cm (for mice) or 24 cm (for rats). The temperature of water was 25˚C ± 1˚C. Each mouse or rat received twice a respective dose of FLU (20 mg/kg, ig) or TMP (20, 40, 80 mg/kg, ig) 17 h and 7 h (for FLU) or 30 (for rats) or 10 (for mice) min (for TMP) before the forced-swimming test. This dose of FLU was chosen because it had been shown to be differentially effective in HR vs LR animals [9]. The mice or rats in controls received ip injection of physiological saline instead of TMP. And then the animals were subjected to the tests. Measurement was carried out for six (for mice) or five min (for rats). For mice, the first two min the animal was allowed to adjust to the new conditions; after these two min, the immobility time that alternated with conditions of enhanced motor activity was measured. Immobility time was measured with a stopwatch for the next four min. For rats, no time the animal was allowed to adjust to the new conditions. Immobility time is the time during which the animal floated on the surface with front paws together and made only those movements which were necessary to keep afloat. Shorter immobility time is an indicator of the stronger antidepressant effect of the tested substance [10-12].

2.4. Tail-Suspension Test

The tail suspension test was based on the method of Steru et al. [13]. Each mouse received twice a respective dose of FLU (20 mg/kg, ig) or TMP (20, 40, 80 mg/kg, ip) 17 h and 7 h (for FLU, ig) or 10 min (for TMP, ig) before the tail-suspension test, the mice in control received ig physiological saline instead of TMP, and the animals were subjected to the test 10 min later. A cord of about 50 cm in length was stretched between two metal tripods at a height of ca 70 cm, to which the mice were attached by the tail with sticky tape. After the initial period (the first two min) of vigorous motor activity, the mice became still and the immobility time was measured with a stopwatch for a total duration of 4 min [13,14]. Mice were considered immobile when they hung passively and completely motionless.

2.5. Induction and Measurement of Hypothermia, Akinesia and Ptosis

Mice were assigned randomly into six matched groups (each consisting of 12 animals) based on rectal temperature (for hypothermia test) or body weight (for akinesia and ptosis tests) before onset of the test. Group1 (control) was treated with physiological saline, and maintained under identical conditions to other groups for use as control. Group 2 (reserpine) was given reserpine alone (2 mg/kg, ip). Group 3 (clomipramine) was given both clomipramine hydrochloride (40 mg/kg × 2) and reserpine (2 mg/kg, ip). Group 4, 5, 6 (TMP) were given both TMP (20, 40, 80 mg/kg × 2) and reserpine (2 mg/kg, ip), respectively. Clomipramine hydrochloride or TMP were administered ig twice 24 h and 30 min prior to reserpine, and then the mice were treated with reserpine.

At 60 min after the injection of reserpine the mice were placed in a circle 7.5 cm in diameter to observe for 30 s, the number of mice out of circle in each group was calculated [15]. The degree of ptosis of each animal was recorded at 90 min after the injection of reserpine. For the evaluation of ptosis, mice were placed on a shelf (20 cm above the bench top). The degree of ptosis was rated according to the following rating scale: 0, eyes open; 1, one-quarter closed; 2, half closed; 3, three-quarters closed; and 4, completely closed [2,16]. The rectal temperature of each animal was measured with an electrical thermometer at 2, 4, 6 h after the injection of reserpine [4,17].

2.6. Measurement of HTR Induced by 5-HTP

2.6.1. Effect of TMP on HTR Induced by 5-HTP

Male KM mice were assigned randomly into six matched groups (n = 12 animals in each group) based body weight before onset of the test: control, 5-HTP, FLU, and TMP groups. FLU (40 mg/kg) or TMP (20, 40, 80 mg/kg) were administered ig twice 24 h and 30 min prior to 5- HTP, and 30 min later the mice were ip injected with 5- HTP (200 mg/kg). Control was treated with physiological saline, and maintained under identical conditions to other groups. The number of HTR were counted for 8 min (from 15 to 23 min) after the injection of 5-HTP. The total number of HTP per experiment was counted for each mouse [18].

2.6.2. Effect of FLU + TMP on HTR Induced by 5-HTP

Male KM mice were assigned randomly into five matched groups (n = 10 animals in each group) based body weight before onset of the test: control, 5-HTP, FLU, TMP, and FLU + TMP groups. FLU (40 mg/kg)，TMP (80 mg/kg) or FLU (40 mg/kg) following TMP (80 mg/kg) were administered ig twice 24 h and 30 min prior to 5-HTP, and 30 min later the mice were ip injected with 5-HTP (200 mg/kg). Control was treated with physiological saline, and maintained under identical conditions to other groups. The number of HTR was counted as above mentioned.

2.7. Potentiation of NE Toxicity Test

Mice were assigned randomly into six matched groups (each consisting of 12 animals) based on body weight before onset of the test. Group 1 (control) was treated with physiological saline, and maintained under identical conditions to other groups for use as control. Group 2 (NE) was given NE bitartrate alone (4.0 mg/kg, ip). Group 3 (clomipramine) was given both clomipramine (40 mg/kg × 2) and NE bitartrate (4.0 mg/kg, ip). Group 4, 5, 6 (TMP) were given both TMP (20, 40, 80 mg/kg × 2) and NE bitartrate (4.0 mg/kg, ip), respectively. Clomipramine or TMP were administered ig twice 24 h and 30 min prior to NE bitartrate, and then the mice were treated with NE bitartrate. Lethality (number of mice which died/total number of mice) was recorded and calculated 48 h after the injection of NE bitartrate.

2.8. Statistical Analysis

Results were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (SD) unless otherwise stated. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, followed by Dunnett’s t-test. Comparisons of lethality and akinesia among groups were made according to χ2-test. Signicant difference was determined when P < 0.05.

3. Results

3.1. Effects of ig Administration of TMP on the Immobility Time in Forced-Swimming Animal Models of Depression

Figures 2 and 3 show the effects of TMP and FLU on the duration of immobility in the forced swim tests. When compared with the control group, TMP at the doses of 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg reduced the duration of immobility by 11.5%, 15.5% and 24.0% (P < 0.05)(for rats), and 21.5%, 29.7%, and 39.9%(P < 0.05) (for mice), respectively. Similar effects were observed for treating the rats and mice with classical antidepressant FLU at the dose of 20 mg/kg which served as a positive control of the experiment. The reduction in the duration of immobility given with FLU 20 mg/kg) was 34.1% (for rats) and 37.0% (for mice), respectively. TMP at the dose of 80 mg/kg was as effective as the positive control (FLU, 20 mg/kg) in these tests.

3.2. Effects of ig Administration of TMP on the Immobility Time in Tail-Supension Animal Model of Depression

Figure 4 shows the effects of TMP and FLU on the duration of immobility in the tail suspension test. TMP at the doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg significantly reduced the dura-

Figure 2. Effect of ig administration of TMP on the immobility time during forced-swimming test in rats. Each rat received twice a respective dose of FLU (20 mg/kg, ig) or TMP (20, 40, 80 mg/kg, ig) 17 h and 7 h (for FLU) or 30 min (for TMP) before the forced-swimming test, the rats in control received ig administration of physiological saline instead of TMP. And the measurement of immobility time was carried out by observing the motoric activity of the rats as described in “Materials and Methods”. Values are expressed as the means ± SEM of 12 animals per group. Data were analyzed with SPSS 10.0 software. *P < 0.05, vs control.

Figure 3. Effect of ig administration of TMP on the immobility time during forced-swimming test in mice. Each mouse received twice a respective dose of FLU (20 mg/kg, ig) or TMP (20, 40, 80 mg/kg, ig) 17 h and 7 h (for FLU) or 10 min (for TMP) before the forced-swimming test, the mice in control received ig administration of physiological saline instead of TMP. And the measurement of immobility time was carried out by observing the motoric activity of the rats as described in “Materials and Methods”. Values are expressed as the means ± SEM of 12 animals per group. Data were analyzed with SPSS 10.0 software. *P < 0.05 vs control.

Figure 4. Effect of ig administration of TMP on the immobility time during tail-suspension test in mic. Each mouse received twice a respective dose of FLU (20 mg/kg, ig) or TMP (20, 40, 80 mg/kg, ip) 17 h and 7 h (for FLU, ig ) or 10 min (for TMP, ig) before the tail-suspension test, the mice in control received ig administration of physiological saline instead of TMP. And the measurement of immobility time was carried out by observing the motoric activity of the mice as described in “Materials and Methods”. Values are expressed as the means ± SEM of 12 animals per group. Data were analyzed with SPSS 10.0 software. *P < 0.05 vs control.

tion of immobility time by 45.4% and 48.9%, respectively. Under the same experimental conditions, FLU at the dose of 20 mg/kg also produced a significant (66.9%) reduction in the duration of immobility when compared with the control group. TMP at the doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg was as effective as the positive control, FLU.

3.3. Partial Reversal of Reserpine-Induced Hypothermia in Mice by TMP

Reserpine (2.0 mg/kg) induced a considerable fall (to about 32.5~) in the body temperature 4 hours after its administration (Figure 5). TMP, given 4 hours after reserpine administration at the doses of 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg, weakened the hypothermic action (Figure 5). This effect was stronger for the 80 mg/kg dose.

3.4. Antagonism of Reserpine-Induced Akinesia and Ptosis in Mice by TMP

Tables 1 and 2 show the effects of TMP and clomipramine on reserpine-induced akinesia and ptosis in mice. When compared with the clomipramine control group, TMP at the doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg, and clomipramine at the dose of 40 mg/kg, significantly antagonized akinesia and ptosis induced by reserpine in mice. TMP at the dose of 20 mg/kg significantly antagonized ptosis, but not akinesia.

Figure 5. Partial reversal of reserpine (2.0 mg/kg)-induced hypothermia in mice by TMP. Clomipramine hydrochloride or TMP was administered ig twice 24 h and 30 min prior to reserpine, and then the mice were treated with reserpine (2.0 mg/kg, ip). Rectal temperature was measured at intervals of 2, 4, 6 h after the injection of reserpine using an electrical thermometer. Each value shows mean change ± SEM in body temperature of 12 animals. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 compared to reserpine control; ##P < 0.01 compared to control.

Table 1. Effect of TMP on akinesia induced by reserpine in mice (n = 12).

Table 2. Effect of TMP on ptosis induced by reserpine in mice (n = 12).

3.5. Attenuation of 5-HTP-induced HTR by TMP

Mice only given vehicle showed occasional HTR. The 5-HTP-treated group exhibited markedly and significantly more HTR than control, and the FLU-treated group exhibited markedly and significantly more HTR than 5-HTP control, and the HTR in TMP-treated group decreased markedly but insignificantly in comparison with 5-HTP control (Table 3).

3.6. Attenuation of 5-HTP + FLU-Induced HTR by TMP

The result of representative experiment is given in Table 4. As shown in Table 4, 5-HTP induced HTR, and FLU potentiated 5-HTP-induced HTR significantly and strongly, and TMP attenuated FLU-potentiated HTR induced by 5-HTP markedly but insignificantly (P > 0.05).

3.7. Potentiation of NE Toxicity in Mice by TMP

NE was injected ip at a dose of 4.0 mg/kg 30 min after clomipramine or TMP. As sown in Table 5, TMP and clomipramine potentiated markedly and significantly NE toxicity in mice.

4. Discussion

Forced swim test and tail suspension test are widely used as two animal models of depression to screen new potent antidepressant drugs [10,13,19,20]. In forced swim test and tail suspension test, animals under stress conditions from which they can not escape, become immobile after an initial period of struggling. This immobility signifies behavioral despair, resembling a state of mental depression which can be reduced by antidepressant drugs [10,13]. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ig administration of TMP on the duration of immobility in rats and mice. TMP at daily dose of 80 mg/kg for 2 days significantly decreased the duration of immobility

Table 3. Effect of TMP on 5-HTP induced head-twitch responses in mice (n = 12).

Table 4. Effect of FLU + TMP on 5-HTP induced headtwitch response in mice (n = 12).

Table 5. Effect of TMP on NE induced toxicity in mice (n = 12).

in the forced swim tests in rats and mice (Figures 2 and 3) and at daily doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg for 2 days significantly decreased the duration of immobility tail suspension test in mice (Figure 4). Pretreatment with TMP at the dose of 80 mg/kg (ig) was almost as effective as positive control, FLU (20 mg/kg, ig).

Simple tests for antidepressant-like activity, such as reserpine-induced hypothermia and hypomotility, 5-HTPinduced syndrome, or potentiation of noradrenaline toxicity are often mechanism-based tests. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ig administration of TMP on the reserpine-induced hypothermia and hypomotility, 5-HTP-induced syndrome, and potentiation of noradrenaline toxicity.

The reserpine-induced animal depression model is based on the monoamine hypothesis of depression [21]. Reserpine can irreversibly inhibit the vesicular uptake of monoamines, including noradrenaline, dopamine and 5- hydroxytrytamine. As a consequence, hypothermia and hypomotility are observed as the depletion of monoamines stores [22,23]. These syndromes can be antagonized by major classes of antidepressant drugs. In the present study, pretreating mice with TMP at the dose of 80 mg/kg for 2 days significantly antagonized reserpineinduced hypothermia. TMP at the doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg, and clomipramine at the dose of 40 mg/kg, significantly antagonized akinesia and ptosis induced by reserpine. TMP at the dose of 20 mg/kg significantly antagonized ptosis, but not akinesia. These results suggested that the antidepressant effect of TMP may be mediated via central monoaminergic neurotransmitter system.

It has been observed that the administration of sufficiently large doses of 5-HTP to mice produces spontaneous irregularly occurring head twitches. Head twitches induced by 5-HTP and 5-HT agonists in rats and mice are due to stimulation of central 5-HTz receptors possibly located in brain stem. In the present study, the 5-HTP-treated mice exhibited markedly and significantly more HTR than control, and the FLUtreated mice exhibited markedly and significantly more HTR than 5-HTP control, and the HTR in TMP-treated mice decreased markedly but insignificantly in comparison with 5-HTP control, and TMP attenuated FLU-potentiated HTR induced by 5-HTP markedly but insignificantly. These results suggested that TMP antagonized 5-HTP and FLU. Therefore, the mechanism of antidepressant-like effects of TMP may be different from that of FLU.

Potentiation of lethality in mice intoxicated with NE or yohimbine seems typical of imipramine-like antidepressants since almost all antidepressants studied did show this effect. A test of NE or yohimbine potentiation toxicity in mice reveals an adrenergic component of pharmacological activity of antidepressants. In the present study, TMP and clomipramine potentiated markedly and significantly NE toxicity in mice. Therefore, TMP might be an adrenergic component of pharmacological activity.

Taken together, TMP is one of available blood-activating and stasis-eliminating components from traditional Chinese medicines. This study provides evidences that TMP possesses potent antidepressant-like activity, and it might be an adrenergic component of pharmacological activity, and its mechanism of antidepressant-like action is similar to that of clomipramine, and different from that of FLU.

5. Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Depu Yu for his suggestions and great encouragement.

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NOTES

#The authors contributed equally to this work.

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