Wen-Dan Decoction Improves Negative Emotions in Sleep-Deprived Rats by Regulating Orexin-A and Leptin Expression

Abstract EN

Wen-Dan Decoction (WDD), a formula of traditional Chinese medicine, has been clinically used for treating insomnia for approximately 800 years.

However, the therapeutic mechanisms of WDD remain unclear.

Orexin-A plays a key role in the sleep-wake cycle, while leptin function is opposite to orexin-A.

Thus, orexin-A and leptin may be important factors in sleep disorders.

In this study, 48 rats were divided into control, model, WDD-treated, and diazepam-treated groups.

The model of insomnia was produced by sleep deprivation (SD) for 14 days.

The expressions of orexin-A, leptin, and their receptors in blood serum, prefrontal cortex, and hypothalamus were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunohistochemistry, and real time PCR.

Open field tests showed that SD increased both crossing movement (Cm) and rearing-movement (Rm) times.

Orexin-A and leptin levels in blood serum increased after SD but decreased in brain compared to the control group.

mRNA expressions of orexin receptor 1 and leptin receptor after SD were decreased in the prefrontal cortex but were increased in hypothalamus.

WDD treatment normalized the behavior and upregulated orexin-A, leptin, orexin receptor 1 and leptin receptor in brain.

The findings suggest that WDD treatment may regulate SD-induced negative emotions by regulating orexin-A and leptin expression.