CO_(2)激光灸刺激足三里穴对创伤后应激障碍模型大鼠行为学及边缘下皮质c-Fos表达的影响

Effects of CO_(2) laser stimulation at acupoint ST36 on behaviors and infralimbic cortex c-Fos expression in rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder

目的 观察CO_(2) 激光灸刺激“足三里”穴对创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)模型大鼠行为学及边缘下皮质c-Fos表达的影响。方法 将48只健康雄性SD大鼠随机分为空白组、模型组、激光穴位照射组、激光非穴位照射组,每组12只。模型组、激光穴位照射组、激光非穴位照射组采用单一连续刺激(SPS)方法建模。激光穴位照射组和激光非穴位照射组予CO_(2) 激光灸每日照射双侧“足三里”穴和非穴点,连续干预7 d。第8天,各组大鼠进行旷场实验(OFT)和高架十字迷宫(EPM)实验,结束后测定各组大鼠血浆皮质酮水平,免疫组织化学法检测边缘下皮质c-Fos的表达,并对各组大鼠行为学变化与边缘下皮质c-Fos表达数量作相关性分析。结果 与模型组和激光非穴位照射组比较,激光穴位照射组大鼠的旷场实验中央活动时间、中央路程,以及高架十字迷宫实验中央停留时间和开臂进入次数均显著性增加(P<0.05)。与模型组和激光非穴位照射组比较,激光穴位照射组大鼠的血浆皮质酮水平显著性降低(P<0.05)。与模型组比较,激光穴位照射组边缘下皮质c-Fos的表达明显增加(P<0.05)。各组大鼠边缘下皮质神经元c-Fos表达数量与大鼠的行为学变化存在显著相关性(P<0.01)。结论 CO_(2) 激光灸刺激“足三里”穴能有效改善PTSD模型大鼠的焦虑样行为,其机制或与边缘下皮质神经元激活有关。

Objective To observe the effect of CO_(2) laser moxibustion at Zusanli(ST36)on anxiety-like behaviors and infralimbic cortex(IL)c-Fos expression in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD).Methods Totally 48 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into control group(n=12),model group(n=12),acupoint laser stimulation(LS)group(n=12)and non-acupoint laser stimulation(Sham LS)group(n=12). The animal model in PTSD,LS and Sham LS groups was established by single-prolonged stress(SPS)method. CO_(2) laser stimulation was applied to bilateral Zusanli(ST36)in the LS group or non-acupoint in the Sham LS group for 20 minutes,once daily for consecutive 7 days. On the 8th day,rats in each group were tested by open field test(OFT)and elevated plus maze(EPM),after which the plasma corticosterone levels were measured and the IL c-Fos expression was detected by immunohistochemical techniques,and the correlation analysis of the behavioral changes and the amount of cFos expression in the infralimbic cortex of rats in each group was conducted.Results Relative to the group and the Sham LS group,LS group was associated with increased center area time spent both in the OFT and EPM,as so as the open arms in the EPM test(P<0.05). Compared with the group and the Sham LS group,the plasma corticosterone levels were obviously decreased in the LS group(P<0.05). Compared with the group,the expression of IL c-Fos in the LS group was significantly increased(P < 0.05),and a significant correlation was detected between the amount of c-Fos expression in IL cortical neurons and behavioral changes in rats(P<0.01).Conclusion CO_(2) laser stimulation at Zusanli(ST36)can effectively reduce anxiety-like behaviors in PTSD rats,and its mechanism may be related to the activation of IL cortical neurons.