Electroacupuncture at Du channel and meridian of foot-Taiyang for hippocampal neurons in rats with depression

摘要

BACKGROUND: Long-term anti-depression treatment can promote the regeneration of hippocampal regeneration. Up-regulation of hippocampal regeneration can reverse or prevent against the injury of stress to cerebrum,especially to hippocampal structure and function. Therefore,promoting hippocampal neuronal regeneration may be a new strategy for treating depression and anxiety. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electro-acupuncture at Du channel and meridian of foot-Taiyang on hippocampal neurons from model rats of depression. DESIGN: A randomized controlled animal experiment. SETTING: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion,Shenzhen Affiliated Hospital,Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. MATERIALS: Twenty-four Wistar rats,of either gender,aged 2 months old,weighing 200-220 g,were provided by the Animal Experimental Center,Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. METHODS: This experiment was carried out in the Clinical Molecular Biochemical Laboratory,Shenzhen Affiliated Hospital,Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between October 2006 and April 2007. ①The involved rats were randomized into 4 groups according to body mass: blank control group,model group,electroacupuncture A group and electroacupuncture B group,with 6 in each. Rats in the blank control group were free to access to water,and were not given any intervention. Rats in the latter 3 groups were developed into rat depression models by chronic stress combined with feeding alone,and received 21-day unpredictable various stresses. Rats in the model group were euthanized at 14 days after modeling,and their brain tissues were harvested. Rats in the electroacupuncture A group were modeled,then points "Baihui" and "Shenting" were chosen,and given electroacupuncture,once a day,20 minutes once. Rats in the electroacupuncture B group were modeled,then points "Baihui","Shenting","Xinshu"and "Ganshu" were chosen,and frequency and therapeutic time were the same as those of electroacupuncture A group. Rats in the latter 2 groups were also given electroacupuncture,and their brain tissues were harvested 14 days later. ②Index evaluation: Neurons in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions as well as dentate gyrus neuron specific enolase (NSE)-positive cells were counted by immunofluorescent technique. Each rat was weighted on the day of grouping and before execution at 35 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neuron amount in each hippocampal region and body mass of rats in each group. RESULTS: Twenty-four rats were involved in the final analysis. ①Neuronal amount in each region of hippocampus: Neurons in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions as well as dentate gyrus of rats in the model group were significantly less than those in the blank control group (P < 0.01). Neurons in hippocampal CA1and CA3 regions as well as dentate gyrus of rats in the electroacupuncture A and B groups were more than those in the model group (P < 0.05). ② Change in body mass of rats: Body mass increase of rats in the model group was less than that in the blank control group (P < 0.05),and body mass increase of electroacupuncture A and B groups was significantly more than that in the model group,respectively (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture at Du channel and meridian of foot-Taiyang alleviates hippocampal neuronal injury of rats,and thereby,improves depression and promotes the increase of body mass of rats.