Journal of Southern Medical University ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (8): 1754-1763.doi: 10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2026.08.04
Wuyou Decoction alleviates hippocampal neuronal injury and improves synaptic plasticity in rats with chronic sleep deprivation by inhibiting ferroptosis via activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway
Liling HE1,2(
), Dan WU1,2, Bixuan LAI1,2, Qixuan NIU1,2, Junhua CHEN1,2, Jianhong GAO1,3, Qinghua LONG1,2, Zhengyu WANG1,2()
- 1.Department of Medicine, Hefei 23000, China
2.Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease Occurrence and Intervention, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi 445000, China, Hefei 23000, China
3.First Clinical Medical College of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 23000, China
-
Received:2026-01-12Online:2026-08-20Published:2026-08-01 -
Contact:Zhengyu WANG E-mail:642755743@qq.com;1098796629@qq.com
Cite this article
Liling HE, Dan WU, Bixuan LAI, Qixuan NIU, Junhua CHEN, Jianhong GAO, Qinghua LONG, Zhengyu WANG. Wuyou Decoction alleviates hippocampal neuronal injury and improves synaptic plasticity in rats with chronic sleep deprivation by inhibiting ferroptosis via activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway[J]. Journal of Southern Medical University, 2026, 46(8): 1754-1763.
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URL: https://www.j-smu.com/EN/10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2026.08.04
Fig.1 Statistical charts of the performance of the rats in Morris water maze test. A: Representative trajectories in the navigation test in each group. B: Progression of escape latency during the 5-day training. C: Statistical chart of final escape latency. D: Number of platform crossings. E: Duration of rats' stay in the target quadrant. F: Swimming speed during spatial exploration (n=10). **P<0.01 vs NC group, ##P<0.01 vs Model group.
Fig.1 Statistical charts of the performance of the rats in Morris water maze test. A: Representative trajectories in the navigation test in each group. B: Progression of escape latency during the 5-day training. C: Statistical chart of final escape latency. D: Number of platform crossings. E: Duration of rats' stay in the target quadrant. F: Swimming speed during spatial exploration (n=10). **P<0.01 vs NC group, ##P<0.01 vs Model group.
Fig.2 HE staining of the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions of the rats in each group (Original magnification: ×200, n=3).
Fig.2 HE staining of the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions of the rats in each group (Original magnification: ×200, n=3).
Fig.3 Nissl staining of the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions of the rats in each group (×200, n=3). **P<0.01 vs NC group, #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 vs Model group.
Fig.3 Nissl staining of the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions of the rats in each group (×200, n=3). **P<0.01 vs NC group, #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 vs Model group.
Fig.4 Immunohistochemical detection of hippocampal tissue of the rats in each group (×200, n=3). **P<0.01 vs NC group, #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 vs Model group.
Fig.4 Immunohistochemical detection of hippocampal tissue of the rats in each group (×200, n=3). **P<0.01 vs NC group, #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 vs Model group.
Fig.5 Result of hippocampal synapses. A-C: Golgi staining. D-F: Immunofluorescence intensity of PSD95 and SYN1 (×200, n=3). **P<0.01 vs NC group, #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 vs Model group.
Fig.5 Result of hippocampal synapses. A-C: Golgi staining. D-F: Immunofluorescence intensity of PSD95 and SYN1 (×200, n=3). **P<0.01 vs NC group, #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 vs Model group.
Fig.6 Mitochondrial structure in rat hippocampus detected by transmission electron microscopy (×10 000).
Fig.6 Mitochondrial structure in rat hippocampus detected by transmission electron microscopy (×10 000).
Fig.7 Oxidative stress levels (A) and contents of iron metabolism-related proteins FTH1 and TfR1 (B) in rats from different groups (n=6 or 3). **P<0.01 vs NC group; #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 vs Model group.
Fig.7 Oxidative stress levels (A) and contents of iron metabolism-related proteins FTH1 and TfR1 (B) in rats from different groups (n=6 or 3). **P<0.01 vs NC group; #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 vs Model group.
Fig.8 Expression levels of ferroptosis-related proteins (ACSL4, GPX4, and SCL7A11) and signaling pathway proteins (Nrf2 and HO-1) detected by Western blotting (n=3). **P<0.01 vs NC group, #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 vs Model group.
Fig.8 Expression levels of ferroptosis-related proteins (ACSL4, GPX4, and SCL7A11) and signaling pathway proteins (Nrf2 and HO-1) detected by Western blotting (n=3). **P<0.01 vs NC group, #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 vs Model group.
Fig.9 Molecular docking diagrams of paeonol, paeonol glycosides, Nrf2, HO-1, and GPX4.
Fig.9 Molecular docking diagrams of paeonol, paeonol glycosides, Nrf2, HO-1, and GPX4.
Tab.1 The binding energy of ferulic acid, paeoniflorin with Nrf2, HO-1, and GPX4
| Key compound | Affinity (kcal/mol) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nfr2 | HO-1 | GPX4 | |
| Ferulic acid | -7.1 | -5.7 | -6.6 |
| Paeoniflorin | -9.6 | -7.2 | -7.2 |
Tab.1 The binding energy of ferulic acid, paeoniflorin with Nrf2, HO-1, and GPX4
| Key compound | Affinity (kcal/mol) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nfr2 | HO-1 | GPX4 | |
| Ferulic acid | -7.1 | -5.7 | -6.6 |
| Paeoniflorin | -9.6 | -7.2 | -7.2 |
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