Effects of artemisinin on depression-like behaviors and hippocampal neuronal apoptosis in a chronic stress mouse model

Objective To observe the ameliorative effect of artemisetin on depression-like behaviors in mice induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and to investigate its effect on hippocampal neuronal apoptosis. Methods Healthy male C57BL/6 SPF-grade mice were selected and divided into a negative control group and a modeling group according to the principle of body weight matching. Mice in the modeling group were subjected to continuous stress stimulation by the CUMS method for 42 d. On the 29th day of stress, mice successfully modeled were screened out by the forced swimming test and then divided by the random number table method into a model group, a venlafaxine group, an artemisetin high-dose group, and an artemisetin low-dose group. All successfully modeled mice...