Effect of Shuyu capsule on the Ca~(2+)/CaM signal pathway in primarily cultured rat hippocampal neurons

Aim To investigate calcium concentration and the expression levels of calmodulin in hippocampal neurons,thus providing clues for exploring microscopic mechanisms of Shuyu capsule treating depression emotion.Methods Depression emotion model rats were prepared with the method of combining separate feeding with chronic mild stimulus.Shuyu capsule and Bupleurum root,the monarch drug were used for drug intervention,fluoxetine as a positive control.Serum of rats in each group was collected and then added into the medium of vitro serum-free cultured hippocampal primary neurons.Then calcium concentration was measured by fluorescent Fluo-3/AM staining and the expression levels of calmodulin(CaM) were evaluated by immunofluorescence.Results Compared with neurons treated with normal rat serum,calcium concentration and the expression levels of CaM in neurons treated with model rat serum increased significantly(P0.05).After incubated by those medicated serum,the calcium concentration and the CaM expression levels of neurons were higher than those in model rat serum treatment group(P0.05),and showed no difference from normal serum treated cells.Conclusion Shuyu capsule regulates the activity of Ca2+-CaM system in hippocampal neurons,which may be one of the mechanisms of treating depression emotion.