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是一种系统化的医疗保健，在日本已经实行了几百年。本研究以Wakan-Yaku理论为基础，采用多种Wakan-Yaku方剂治疗抑郁症，开展了1)抑郁症的新分类，2)建立包括Wakan-Yaku方剂在内的高效药物治疗的实验研究，3)为抗抑郁新药的开发提供新的基础知识。采用图像分析方法(MRI)对药物敏感/不敏感的人和抑郁症模型小鼠脑内的Wakan-Yaku效应，利用模型动物对作用机制的综合观点，Wakan-Yaku改变培养细胞表达或成分的基因的鉴定和意义，以及电生理技术和3D-HPLC分析/纯化相结合的方法对活性化合物进行生物活性测定。

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.