A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry investigates the effects of Qifuyin, a traditional Chinese medicine, on anxiety and depression-like behaviors in 3×Tg-AD mice, a model for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Alzheimer’s disease is often associated with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), which include anxiety and depression.
In this research, 82 male and female 3×Tg-AD mice, aged 10.3 months, were compared to a control group of 20 C57BL/6 mice of the same age. The 3×Tg-AD mice were divided into five groups: a control group receiving a solvent, a positive medicine group receiving donepezil and memantine, and three Qifuyin groups receiving low, medium, and high doses of the treatment.
The researchers assessed anxiety-like behaviors using two tests: the open field test (OFT) and the elevated plus maze (EPM). In the OFT, anxiety-like behaviors were measured by observing the duration and number of visits to the central area of the arena, as well as the total distance traveled. Results indicated that 3×Tg-AD mice exhibited reduced time spent in the central area, fewer visits, and shorter distances compared to the control group, indicating increased anxiety. The EPM results supported these findings, showing a decrease in both the duration and frequency of visits to the open arms among the 3×Tg-AD mice.
Depression-like behaviors were evaluated using the forced swim test (FST) and the sucrose splash test (ST). In the FST, the 3×Tg-AD mice demonstrated increased immobility time, a common indicator of depressive-like behavior. The sucrose splash test revealed reduced interest in sucrose solution, further supporting the presence of depression-like symptoms in these mice.
The study also analyzed plasma levels of key hormones, including corticosterone, testosterone, and estradiol, along with stress-related hormones such as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Findings indicated that Qifuyin treatment modulated the levels of these hormones, suggesting a link between neuroendocrine function and the observed behavioral changes. Principal component analysis highlighted the differences in hormonal profiles across the groups, while Pearson correlation analysis explored the relationships between hormone levels and behavioral phenotypes.
This research provides evidence that Qifuyin can alleviate anxiety and depression-like behaviors in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. The treatment not only improved behavioral symptoms but also influenced neuroendocrine function, which may offer a new avenue for therapeutic strategies targeting emotional disturbances in Alzheimer’s patients. Future studies are necessary to further understand the mechanisms of Qifuyin and its potential applications in human populations.
