Effects of total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides L on neurobehavioral function and the contents of monoamine neurotransmitters in rats

Objective To evaluate the effect of total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides L on the nervous behavior and the expression of neurotransmitters in rats. Methods 48 male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: blank group, total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides L treatment with 4 mg·kg-1·d-1(low dose group), 8 mg·kg-1·d-1(medium dose group) and 16 mg·kg-1·d-1(high dose group) groups.After successive intragastric administration for 30 days, the locomotor activity was applied to test the nervous behavior and emotional state of rats in each group. After behavioral tests were finished, the contents of tryptophan (Trp), 5- hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), 5-serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E) and dopamine (DA) were detected by ELISA in serum and brain. Results In the experiment of locomotor activity, compared with blank group ((95.33±12.75) times), the numbers of horizontal movement of Sophora alopecuroides L in medium and high dose group ((61.64±5.91), (64.62±5.79)times both P 0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that the degree of autonomic activity in rats with the content of 5-HT, 5-HIAA and DA in serum was negatively correlated (P<0.05, P<0.01), the degree of emotional stress and the content of 5-HT, 5-HIAA in brain was negatively correlated (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion The total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides L can reduce the activity of rats and increase the degree of emotional stress.And the mechanism may be correlated with the increasing level of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in serum and brain. Key words: Total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides L; Autonomic activity; 5-HT; Function of neural behavior