Electroacupuncture pretreatment exhibits antidepressive effects by regulating hippocampal proteomics in rats with chronic restraint stress

The clinical effect of electroacupuncture on depression is widely recognized. However, the signal transduction pathways and target proteins involved remain unclear. In the present study, rat models of chronic restraint stress were used to explore the mechanism by which electroacupuncture alleviates depression. Rats were randomly divided into control, model, and electroacupuncture groups. Chronic restraint stress was induced in the model and electroacupuncture groups by restraining rats for 28 days. In the electroacupuncture group, electroacupuncture pretreatment at Baihui（GV20） and Yintang（GV29） acupoints was performed daily（1 m A, 2 Hz, discontinuous wave, 20 minutes） prior to restraint for 28 days. Open field tests and body weight measurements were carried out to evaluate the depressive symptoms at specific time points. On day 28, the crossing number, rearing number, and body weights of the model group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Behavior test results indicated that rat models of depressive-like symptoms were successfully established by chronic restraint stress combined with solitary raising. On day 28, an isobaric tag for a relative and absolute quantitation-based quantitative proteomic approach was performed to identify differentially expressed proteins in hippocampal samples obtained from the model and electroacupuncture groups. The potential function of these differential proteins was predicted through the use of the Cluster of Orthologous Groups of proteins（COG） database. Twenty-seven differential proteins（uncharacteristic proteins expected） were selected from the model and electroacupuncture groups. In addition to unknown protein functions, COG are mainly concentrated in general prediction function, mechanism of signal transduction, amino acid transport and metabolism groups. This suggests that electroacupuncture improved depressive-like symptoms by regulating differential proteins, and most of these related proteins exist in nerve cells.

CLINICAL APPLICATION OF ACUPUNCTURE ON ALLEVIATION OF STRESS REACTION INDUCED BY TRACHEAL INTUBATION IN GENERAL ANESTHESIA

By summarizing the formation of stress reaction induced by tracheal intubation and method of medicinal control, the recognition of Chinese medicine in treatment of cardiac arrhythmia and hypertension with acupuncture and the clinical application of acupuncture on stress reaction induced by tracheal intubation, it is concluded that the side effects of tracheal intubation are inevitable, even though there are many methods presented for the prevention and treatment for it. In recent years, the functions of acupuncture in anesthesia, especially in regulation of circulatory properties have been developed gradually and have been applied by many physicians in controlling the stress reaction induced by tracheal intubation in general anesthesia. Being a kind of dual-directional and positive regulation and stimulation, acupuncture provides definite and safe effects on controlling the stress reaction induced by tracheal intubation.

Heijiangdan Ointment(黑绛丹膏)Relieves Oxidative Stress from Radiation Dermatitis Induced by ^(60)Co γ-Ray in Mice

Objective：To investigate the effects of Heijiangdan Ointment（黑绛丹膏,HJD） on oxidative stress in （60）Co γ-ray radiation-induced dermatitis in mice.Methods：Female Wistar mice with grade 4 radiation dermatitis induced by ^（60）Co γ-rays were randomly divided into four groups（n=12 per group）;the HJD-treated,recombinant human epidermal growth factor（rhEGF）-treated,Trolox-treated,and untreated groups,along with a negative control group.On the 11 th and 21 st days after treatment,6 mice in each group were chosen for evaluation.The levels of superoxide dismutase（SOD）,malondialdehyde（MDA）,and lactate dehydrogenase（LDH） were detected using spectrophotometric methods.The fibroblast mitochondria were observed by transmission electron microscopy（TEM）.The expressions of fibroblast growth factor 2（FGF-2） and transforming growth factor β1（TGF-β1） were analyzed by western blot.Results：Compared with the untreated group,the levels of SOD,MDA and LDH,on the 11 th and 21 st days after treatment showed significant difference（P〈0.05）.TEM analysis indicated that fibroblast mitochondria in the untreated group exhibited swelling and the cristae appeared fractured,while in the HJD group,the swelling of mitochondria was limited and the rough endoplasmic reticulum appeared more relaxed.The expressions of FGF-2 and TGF-β1 increased in the untreated group compared with the negative control group（P〈0.05）.After treatment,the expression of FGF-2,rhEGF and Trolox in the HJD group were significantly increased compared with the untreated group（P〈0.05）,or compared with the negative control group（P〈0.05）.The expression of TGF-β1 showed significant difference between untreated and negative control groups（P〈0.05）.HJD and Trolox increased the level of TGF-β1 and the difference was marked as compared with the untreated and negative control groups（P〈0.05）.Conclusion：HJD relieves oxidative stress-induced injury,increases the antioxidant activity,mitigates the fibroblast mitochondrial damage,up-regulates the expression of growth factor,and promotes mitochondrial repair in mice.

The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra of the Key Organs Derived from Kidney(Shen)-Yang Deficiency Syndrome Mice

Objective：To explore an approach to rapidly and accurately identify the compounds as biomarkers of Chinese medicine（CM）syndromes.Method：The Fourier transform infrared（FT-IR）spectrometry was applied to investigate the characteristic components of a mice model of Kidney（Shen）-yang deficiency syndrome（KDS）,and the remedial effect of a typical CM formula Shenqi Pill（肾气丸）.Thirty-six females and 18 males of Balb/c mice were randomly divided into KDS,Shenqi or control group.The females and males of the same group freely were mated for 96 h,and the males were taken out and only the female mice were raised.Females of the KDS group were threatened by a ferocious cat every other day for 14 d.After delivery,the KDS,or gestational threatened,offspring were raised at standard condition for 11 weeks.Then 10 male offspring were randomly selected,anaesthetized and their representative organs,i.e.testes,kidneys,lungs and feet were collected,for the FT-IR scan.Mice of the Shenqi group were intragastric administered Shenqi Pill;while mice in the KDS and control groups were given the same volume of saline.Results：The attenuated birth outcomes of the KDS group were displayed.The remarkable FT-IR differences of all organs between KDS mice and healthy control were mainly at 1,735-1,745 cm-1（indicating the increased levels of lipids）and at 1,640-1,647 cm-1and 1,539-1,544 cm-1（displaying the decreased proteins）.No statistic FT-IR difference between Shenqi and control mice was observed.Conclusion：In accordance with major traits of KDS,prenatal stress extensively impaired the building up of proteins and resulting in the excessive lipid storage,and FT-IR could effectively identify the biomarkers of KDS.