Studies for the detail mechanisms of depression onset and the development of novel antidepressants based on "the Wakan-yaku, Sino-Japanese traditional medicine, theory"

Wakan-yaku是一种在日本已经实行了几百年的系统化医疗保健。本研究以Wakan-yaku的理论为基础，利用Wakan-yaku的多种处方治疗抑郁症，进行了以下方面的实验研究：1)抑郁症的新分类；2)建立包括Wakan-yaku处方在内的高效药物治疗；3)为新型抗抑郁药物的开发提供新的基础知识。得到以下结果：通过图像分析方法（MRI）研究Wakan-yaku在药物敏感/不敏感人和抑郁模型小鼠脑中的作用，从模型动物的作用机制的综合观点，Wakan-yaku改变Wakan-yaku表达或培养细胞结构的基因的鉴定和意义，以及电生理技术与3D-HPLC分析/纯化相结合的方法对活性化合物进行生物测定。

The Wakan-yaku is systematized medical care that has been practiced for several hundred years in Japan. Based on the theories of Wakan-yaku and using various Wakan-yaku prescriptions for depression treatment, the experimental studies for 1) novel-classification of depressive disorders, 2) establishment of highly effective drug treatment including the Wakan-yaku prescriptions, and 3) to supply of novel basic knowledge for development of new antidepressants were carried out. The following results were obtained; Wakan-yaku effects in the brain of drug-sensitive/-insensitive human and depression-model mice by image analytical method (MRI), the integrated viewpoint of the action mechanism using the model animal, identification and the significance of genes which changes the expression by Wakan-yaku or the constitutions in cultured cells, and the bioassay of active compounds by using the combined methods of electrophysiological technique with 3D-HPLC analysis/purification.