摘要
Electroacupuncture improves depressive behavior faster and with fewer adverse effects than antidepressant medication. However, the antidepressant mechanism of electroacupuncture remains poorly understood. Here, we established a rat model of chronic unpredicted mild stress, and then treated these rats with electroacupuncture at Yintang （EX-HN3） and Baihui （DU20） with sparse waves at 2 Hz and 0.6 mA for 30 minutes, once a day. We found increased horizontal and vertical activity, and decreased immobility time, at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment. Moreover, levels of neurotransmitters （5-hydroxytryptamine, glutamate, and y-aminobutyric acid） and protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor-related proteins （TrkB, protein kinase A, and phosphorylation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein） were increased in the hippocampus. Similarly, protein kinase A and TrkB mRNA levels were increased, and calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase lI levels decreased. These findings suggest that electroacupuncture increases phosphorylation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels by regulating multiple targets in the cyclic adenosine rnonophosphate response element binding protein signal- ing pathway, thereby promoting nerve regeneration, and exerting an antidepressive effect.
Electroacupuncture improves depressive behavior faster and with fewer adverse effects than antidepressant medication. However, the antidepressant mechanism of electroacupuncture remains poorly understood. Here, we established a rat model of chronic unpredicted mild stress, and then treated these rats with electroacupuncture at Yintang （EX-HN3） and Baihui （DU20） with sparse waves at 2 Hz and 0.6 mA for 30 minutes, once a day. We found increased horizontal and vertical activity, and decreased immobility time, at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment. Moreover, levels of neurotransmitters （5-hydroxytryptamine, glutamate, and y-aminobutyric acid） and protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor-related proteins （TrkB, protein kinase A, and phosphorylation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein） were increased in the hippocampus. Similarly, protein kinase A and TrkB mRNA levels were increased, and calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase lI levels decreased. These findings suggest that electroacupuncture increases phosphorylation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels by regulating multiple targets in the cyclic adenosine rnonophosphate response element binding protein signal- ing pathway, thereby promoting nerve regeneration, and exerting an antidepressive effect.
基金
supported by the General Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81273847
