ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture at Ganshu (BL18) and Zusanli (ST36) on depression state and gastrointestinal motility and relevant protein expressions in brain of rats with stress-induced depressive functional dyspepsia. Methods Totally 48 Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal, model, electroacupuncture (EA) and sham-operation group, with 12 rats in each group. Depressive functional dyspepsia model was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress protocols. From day 15 to day 28, the EA group was given electroacupuncture at BL18 and ST36, and the sham-operation group was stimulated by electroacupuncture at 1/3 and 2/3 of the tail. Body weight test, open field test and sucrose preference test were measured on day 0, day 14 and day 28. After 14-day administration, gastric residual volume and intestinal propulsion rate of semisolid paste were detected. The expression of βCaMK inⅡ lateral habenulas and BDNF in hippocampus were measured by Western blot. Results Compared with the normal group, the weight, the sucrose preference rate, the behavior score, the small intestinal propulsion rate of semisolid paste and the expression of BDNF in hippocampus decreased significantly both in the model group and sham-operation group (P<0.01), and the gastric residual volume of semisolid paste and the expression of βCaMK inⅡ lateral habenulas increased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the weight, the sucrose preference rate, the behavior score, the small intestinal propulsion rate of semisolid paste and the expression of BDNF in hippocampus increased significantly in EA group (P<0.01), and the gastric residual volume of semisolid paste and the expression of βCaMK inⅡ lateral habenulas decreased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with the sham-operation group, the expression of βCaMKⅡ in lateral habenulas decreased significantly, the expression of BDNF in hippocampus increased significantly in EA group (P<0.01). Conclusion Electroacupuncture at Ganshu (BL18) and Zusanli (ST36) can improve depression and gastrointestinal motility of rats with depressive functional dyspepsia, which may be related to the inhibition of βCaMK inⅡ lateral habenulas and the activation of BDNF in hippocampus dyspepsia.