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Effects of electroacupuncture on rat model of chronic stress-induced depression

电针对慢性应激抑郁模型大鼠的影响

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摘要

目的

观察电针对慢性应激抑郁模型大鼠血清皮质酮(Cortisol, CORT)和促肾上腺皮质激素(Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, ACTH)的影响, 探究针刺治疗抑郁症的作用机制。

方法

将32 只雄性SD大鼠随机分为4 组, 即电针组、 埋线组、 正常组、 模型组, 每组各8 只。 按照慢性轻度不可预见性应激刺激结合孤养的方法造模, 共接受21 d各种不同的刺激, 于造模第1 d、 第14 d、 第21 d分别称量体重, 记录24 h糖水消耗量, 并采用Open-field法对大鼠进行行为学评分。 电针组、 埋线组分别给予百会穴电针、 埋线干预。 应用放射免疫分析法检测大鼠血清CORT和ACTH的含量变化。

结果

与正常组大鼠比较, 模型组大鼠体重及糖水消耗量明显下降, 行为学评分明显降低。 与模型组大鼠相比, 电针组大鼠的体重及糖水消耗量明显增加, 行为学评分显著提高(P<0.01), 血清CORT和ACTH含量显著降低(P<0.01)。 埋线组大鼠糖水消耗量及行为学垂直运动得分显著增加(P<0.01), 血清ACTH也明显降低(P<0.01), 但是CORT含量无显著性差异。

结论

电针与埋线干预均可改善抑郁大鼠的行为学异常, 并下调血清ACTH含量; 电针还能下调血清 CORT含量。 提示该作用可能是其抗抑郁的重要机制。

Abstract

Objective

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on serum cortisol (CORT) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) of rats with chronic stress-induced depression, and to investigate the mechanism of acupuncture in treating depression.

Methods

Thirty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: an electroacupuncture (EA) group, a catgut embedding (CE) group, a control group and a model group, 8 rats in each group. The modeling was operated as the combination of chronic unpredictable mild stress stimulation and single rearing. The rats underwent various stimulations in 21 d. They were weighed, and the 24-h sugar consumption was recorded on the first, 14th, and 21st day. Open-field method was adopted to evaluate the rat’s behavior. The rats in the EA group and CE group were treated with EA or CE on Baihui (GV 20). Serum CORT and ACTH were tested with radioimmunoassay.

Results

Compared with the rats in the control group, the weight and sugar consumption of the rats in the model group reduced significantly as well as the behavior scores. Compared with the rats in the model group, the weight and sugar consumption of the rats in the EA group increased notably, so did the behavior score (P<0.01), and serum CORT and ACTH reduced markedly (P<0.01). For the rats in the CE group, sugar consumption and vertical movement score enhanced significantly (P<0.01) and serum ACTH declined considerably but the CORT content didn’t show significant difference.

Conclusion

Both EA and CE could improve the abnormal behavior of the rats with depression and reduce serum ACTH content. Besides, EA could reduce serum CORT, suggesting the key mechanism to treat depression.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, 310053, P. R. China

    Hua-de Chen  (陈华德), Ling-qing Jin  (金灵青), Ran Lou  (娄冉) & Li-min Zhang  (张丽敏)

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  1. Hua-de Chen  (陈华德)
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  2. Ling-qing Jin  (金灵青)
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  3. Ran Lou  (娄冉)
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  4. Li-min Zhang  (张丽敏)
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Correspondence to Hua-de Chen  (陈华德).

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Chen, Hd., Jin, Lq., Lou, R. et al. Effects of electroacupuncture on rat model of chronic stress-induced depression. J. Acupunct. Tuina. Sci. 10, 9–13 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11726-012-0560-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11726-012-0560-6

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