Effects of the chinese herbal medicine mixture 919 syrup on the isolation stress response in postpartum mice

Objective: Because 919 syrup (919 TJ) improved the appetite of chronic liver disease patients, we examined whether it had an effect on appetite and isolation stress (IS)-induced anorexia related gene expression in postpartum mice. Methods: Mice puerperas and offspring were separated for 3 h/day. Weight gain, serum ghrelin concentrations as well as hypothalamic and gastric ghrelin, growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GSHR), leptin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti-related protein (AgRP), corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and serotonin receptors 5-HT_2cR (hypothalamus) and 5HT_2bR (stomach) transcriptions were monitored in IS exposed postpartum mice treated with high and low dose 919 TJ. Results: Over the course of 21 days, IS inhibited feeding and weight gain, increased the serum levels of ghrelin, upregulated ghrelin and GHSR expression in the stomach and hypothalamus, downregulated leptin and 5-HT_2bR expression in the stomach, upregulated NPY and AgRP expression in the hypothalamus and downregulated CRF, POMC, and 5-HT_2cR expression in the hypothalamus. Although 919 TJ did not improve food intake or weight gain, it reduced the serum concentration of active ghrelin, down regulated ghrelin and GHSR, and upregulated leptin and 5-HT_2bR transcription in the stomach, down regulated ghrelin and GHSR, and upregulated CRF, POMC and 5-HT_2cR transcription in the hypothalamus of postpartum mice. Conclusion: 919 TJ reversed all IS-induced anorexia related changes other than weight gain and food intake.