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. 2009 Mar 1;25(1):17–21. doi: 10.5487/TR.2009.25.1.017

Effects of Aqueous Extract of Schizandra Chinensis Fruit on Cadmium-Induced Change of Monoamine Neurotransmitters in Rats

Zheng Lin Zhao 13, Guang Wen Zhao 23, Li Li 33, Meng Quan Li 33, Li Xin Guan 33, Xu Dong Yang 33, Hou Zhong Li 33, Feng Lin 33, Jong Rok Lee 43, Rong Jie Zhao 33,✉
PMCID: PMC7006262  PMID: 32038814

Abstract

The effects of aqueous extract of Schizandra Chinensis Fruit (AESC) on cadmium-induced changes of monoamine neurotransmitters in the different brain regions of adult rats were investigated. Male rats were received intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of CdCl2 (0.6 mg/kg/d) for 21 days and sacrificed 7 days after the last administration. Concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) in striatum and serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in cortex were measured by HPLC. There were significant decreases of NE, DA, 5-HT and 5-HIAA in Cd intoxicated rats (P < 0.05), while pretreatment with AESC (20 mg/kg/d or 60 mg/kg/d, p.o., 30 min before CdCl2) greatly inhibited the decrease of monoamine transmitters, respectively (P < 0.05). Also, AESC significantly increased the reduction of glutathione contents and superoxide dismutase activities in cortex induced by CdCl2. These results suggest that AESC ameliorates Cd-induced depletion of monoamine neu-rotransmitters in brain through its antioxidant activity.

Key words: Schizandra Chinensis Fruit, Cadmium, Monoamines, Brain, Rat

Abbreviations

AESC

aqueous extract of Schizandra Chinensis Fruit

NE

norepinephrine

DA

dopamine

5-HT

serotonin

5-HIAA

5-hydroxyindole acetic acid

GSH

glutathione

SOD

superoxide dismutase

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