Griflola frondosa (GF) produces significant antidepressant effects involving AMPA receptor activation in mice

Abstract

Context: Griflola frondosa (Fr) S.F. Gray (Meripilaceae) (GF) is a medical mushroom, and its regulation of the immune system is of interest for the treatment of mood disorders. α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA) receptors are the central mediator for the treatment of depression.

Objective: This study examines the antidepressant effects of GF and the role of AMPA in these antidepressant effects.

Materials and methods: The CD-1 mice were fed with GF- or Pleurotus ostreatus [(Jacq.: Fr) Kumm (Pleurotaceae)] (PO)-containing food for 1 day or 5 days. The antidepressant effects was determined in the tail suspension test (TST), forced swim test (FST), and open field test (OFT). The involvement of AMPA receptors was determined by the application of the AMPA-specific blocker GYKI 52466.

Results: Treatments with 20%, 33% or 50% of GF-containing food significantly decreased the immobility time (63.6, 56.9, and 52.0% in TST; and 50.8, 43.2, and 38.2% in FST) after 1 day and (62.3, 51.8, and 52.8% in TST; and 49.5, 45.1, and 40.3% in FST) after 5 days. GF-containing food did not cause hyperactive effects in the OFT. The antidepressant effects of the 33% of GF-containing food (down-to 51.3% in 1-day TST and 46.8% in 5-day FST) were significantly stronger than that of the 33% of PO-containing food (down-to 85.5% in 1-day TST and 82.0% in 5-day FST). AMPA-specific blocker GYKI 52466 was able to block the antidepressant effects of the GF-containing food.

Conclusion: GF demonstrated the potential as a safe medical food supplement for the patient with depression.

Keywords:

• Medical mushroom
• animal behaviour
• tail suspension test
• forced swim test
• polysaccharide

Disclosure statement

The authors declared no conflicts of interest to disclose, financial or otherwise.

Funding

This work was supported by Natural Science Foundation of Yunnan Province [grant number 2012HA004], National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 31560274, 81372360, 31300891], Yunnan Provincial Department of Education [grant number 2014J004], and Beijing Council of Science and Technology [grant number Z10110100191034].