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The effects of laser stimulation at acupoint ST36 on anxiety-like behaviors and anterior cingulate cortex c-Fos expression in a rat post-traumatic stress disorder model

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Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that is linked with the onset of multiple anxiety-like behaviors. This study was designed to assess how these behaviors and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) c-Fos expression were impacted by 10.6-μm laser stimulation at acupoint ST36 a rat model of PTSD. A rat model of PTSD was prepared via prolonged exposure of animals to a stressor, followed by a 7-day period during which animals were allowed to rest undisturbed in their cages. Rats were randomized into four experimental groups (n = 12/group): the control, PTSD, LS, and sham LS groups. Control group animals were not subjected to SPS procedures prior to behavioral testing. LS and sham LS animals were administered LS treatment at bilateral ST36 acupoints or non-acupoints, respectively, for a 7-day period. Animals were then assessed for performance in elevated plus maze (EPM) tests and open-field tests (OFT), and their plasma corticosterone levels were measured. In addition, c-Fos-positive nuclei in the ACC were detected via immunohistochemical staining. Relative to sham LS treatment and PTSD model control rats, LS was associated with increased time spent in both open EPM test arms and in the central area in the OFT (P < 0.05). The PTSD model group exhibited a significant reduction in ACC c-Fox expression, while LS treatment significantly increased this expression (P < 0.001). In addition, a correlation was detected between anxiety-like behaviors and altered ACC neuronal activation. The results of this study indicate that LS at acupoint ST36 can have a previously unreported effect on anxiety-like behaviors in the context of PTSD, with ACC neuronal activation potentially being implicated as a driver of this effect.

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Funding

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC: 81873379) and the Science Research Fund of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family (2018JP010).

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  1. Xiaoyi Qu and Hui Liu contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Rd., Shanghai, 201203, China

    Xiaoyi Qu, Hui Liu, Yazhu Yang, Lumin Liu, Xueyong Shen & Sheng Liu

Authors
  1. Xiaoyi Qu
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  2. Hui Liu
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  3. Yazhu Yang
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  4. Lumin Liu
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  5. Xueyong Shen
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  6. Sheng Liu
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Xiaoyi Qu, Hui Liu, Yazhu Yang, and Lumin Liu. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Xiaoyi Qu and Hui Liu. Sheng Liu and Xueyong Shen reviewed the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Xueyong Shen or Sheng Liu.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Animal Care and the Ethical Committee (No. PZSHUTCM19006071).

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Qu, X., Liu, H., Yang, Y. et al. The effects of laser stimulation at acupoint ST36 on anxiety-like behaviors and anterior cingulate cortex c-Fos expression in a rat post-traumatic stress disorder model. Lasers Med Sci 36, 279–287 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-020-03026-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-020-03026-x

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