Mechanism underlying the protective effect of Kaixin Jieyu Fang on vascular depression following cerebral white matter damage

The Chinese compound Kaixin Jieyu Fang can be used to treat vascular depression; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study established a rat model of chronic cerebral ischemia-caused white matter damage by ligation of the bilateral common carotid arteries. Rats received daily intragastric administration of a suspension of Kaixin Jieyu Fang powder. After 3, 7 and 21 days of treatment, the degree of white matter damage in the cerebral ischemia rat model was alleviated, Bcl-2 protein and mRNA expression in brain tissue increased, and Bax protein and mRNA expression decreased. These results indicate that Kaixin Jieyu Fang can alleviate cerebral white matter damage, and the underlying mechanism is associated with regulation of Bcl-2/Bax protein and mRNA expression, which is one of possible mechanism behind the protective effect of Kaixin Jieyu Fang against vascular depression.