针刺对抑郁模型大鼠皮层及海马脑源性神经营养因子基因和蛋白表达的影响

Effect of Acupuncture on Expression of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Gene and Protein in Frontal Cortex and Hippocampus of Depression Rats

目的:观察针刺对慢性应激抑郁模型大鼠额叶皮层和海马脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)基因和蛋白表达的影响,初步探讨针刺治疗抑郁症的机制。方法:将24只SD大鼠随机分为4组:空白组、空白+针刺组、模型组、模型+针刺组,每组6只。采用孤养结合慢性应激的方法造模。针刺干预选用"百会"透刺"印堂"穴,直刺单侧"内关"穴,留针20min,隔日1次。采用实时荧光定量PCR方法检测大鼠额叶皮层和海马BDNF mRNA表达,免疫印迹技术检测大鼠额叶皮层和海马BDNF蛋白表达水平。结果:与空白组相比,模型组大鼠额叶皮层、海马BDNF mRNA与蛋白表达水平明显下降(P<0.01,P<0.05);空白+针刺组大鼠额叶皮层、海马BDNF mRNA与蛋白表达水平无显著性变化(均P>0.05)。与模型组相比,模型+针刺组大鼠额叶皮层和海马BDNF mRNA与蛋白表达水平均明显升高(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论:慢性应激抑郁模型大鼠额叶皮层和海马内BDNF含量减少,针刺治疗可以上调额叶皮层和海马区BDNF的表达水平,这可能是针刺发挥抗抑郁治疗作用的途径之一。

Objective To observe the influence of acupuncture of ＂Baihui＂（GV 20） to ＂Yintang＂（EX-HN 3） and unila-teral ＂Neiguan＂（PC 6） on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor（BDNF） gene and protein in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in chronic stress-induced depression rats.Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups（6 rats/group）： control,control＋acupuncture,model,and model ＋ acupuncture.Depression model was established by giving the rats with repeated abstinence of food and water,illumination at night,forced cold water-swimming,vibration,tail-clamping,constraint and raising alone for 28 days.Acupuncture was applied to ＂Baihui＂（GV 20） to ＂Yintang＂（EX-HN 3） and unilateral ＂Neiguan＂（PC 6） once every other day for 28 days.The expression levels of BDNF mRNA and protein of the frontal cortex and hippocampus tissues were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot methods,separately.Results Compared with the control group,the expression levels of BDNF mRNA and protein in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were significantly decreased in the model group（P〈0.01,P〈0.05）.Whereas compared with the model group,BDNF mRNA and protein expression levels in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were significantly upregulated in the model＋acupuncture group（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）.No significant differences were found between the control and control＋acupuncture groups in the expression levels of cortical and hippocampal BDNF mRNA and protein（P〉0.05）.Conclusion Acupuncture can effectively reverse chronic stress-induced down-regulation of BDNF mRNA and protein expression in the frontal cortex and hippocampus in depression rats,which may contribute to its effect in anti-depression by protecting the regeneration of neurons.