针刺对抑郁症大鼠海马5-HT、NE、BDNF水平和神经元细胞凋亡相关基因表达的影响

Effects of acupuncture on the levels of 5-HT, NE, BDNF and expression of neuronal apoptosis related genes in hippocampus of the depression rats

目的:探讨针刺对神经元细胞的保护作用及其可能分子机制。方法:侧脑室注射鹅膏蕈氨酸建立神经元损伤大鼠模型;造模成功后,给予针刺和药物干预,观察大鼠的行为学变化、海马神经元细胞形态学改变;检测单胺类神经递质(5-HT、NE)含量的变化、脑源性神经因子(BDNF)和凋亡蛋白Bax/Bcl-2的变化。结果:与空白组比较,模型组表现出运动量减少(P<0.05)、食欲和对新环境的适应能力下降(P<0.05)、神经元细胞数目减少、核内空泡增多、连接松散、5-HT和NE含量显著下降(P<0.05)、Bax/Bcl-2比值升高(P<0.05)。针刺和药物干预后,大鼠运动量、食欲和对新环境的适应能力得到加强(P<0.05),神经元细胞数目增加,连接松散的形态得到改善,核内空泡数量减少,5-HT、NE和BDNF含量均升高(P<0.05),Bax/Bcl-2比值降低(P<0.05)。结论:针刺对神经元的保护作用可能是通过提高5-HT、NE和BDNF的含量,减少神经元细胞凋亡起作用的。

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of acupuncture on neuron cells and its possible related molecular mechanism. Methods: The animal model of neuron damage was established by intracerebroventricular injection of ibotenic acid. After succesful establishment, rats were treated with acupuncture or riluzole. The changes of rats' behavior and morphological of neurons were observed. The contents of monoamine neurotransmitters(5-HT, NE) and the expression levels of BDNF and Bax/Bcl-2 were detected. Results: Compared to the blank group, sucrose consumption, horizontal or vertical movements and the adaptation to the new environment had significantly reduced in the model group(P<0.05); Meanwhile, the number of neuron cells reduced, the contents of 5-HT and NE and expression levels of neuronal apoptosis related genes changed markedly in model group(P<0.05). However, sucrose consumption, horizontal or vertical movements and the adaptation to the new environment had significantly increased compared with the model group after acupuncture or drug intervention(P<0.05). Furthermore, the content of 5-HT and NE and the expression level of BDNF also increased both in the acupuncture group and the drug group with significant differernce(P<0.05). Conclusion: The neuronal protective effect of acupuncture may be caused by increasing the content of monoamine neurotransmitters and BDNF expression, and reducing neuronal apoptosis.