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OBJECTIVE: Using a rat model of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), to investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) pathway. METHODS: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal, model, fluoxetine (fluox), or EA. Experimental groups were subjected to 28 d of CUMS modeling. One hour after CUMS, the fluox and EA groups were treated with ï¬uox and a 20 min EA intervention, respectively. Depressive-like behaviors were assessed by open field and sucrose preference tests. After the rats were sacrificed, brains were dissected and processed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining to observe changes in the morphology and quantity of neurons in the hippocampal cornu ammonis 3 area. Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) demonstrated the effects of EA on the tPA/BDNF pathway-related molecules in the hippocampi and raphe nuclei. RESULTS: Compared to the model group, the number of horizontal and vertical movements and the percentage of sucrose consumption in the EA groups were significantly increased (P < 0.01). Compared to the model group, HE staining showed that the hippocampal neurons in the EA and fluox groups were arranged neatly, with rich layers and complete cell structures. The Western blot and real-time PCR showed that the levels of tPA, BDNF, tropomyosin receptor kinase B, and BDNF micro RNA (mRNA) in the hippocampi of the EA group were higher than in the model group (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively). The content of p75NTR, proBDNF, and tPA mRNA in the hippocampi of the EA group displayed no significant differences compared to the model group. The tPA mRNA content in the raphe nuclei of the EA group was higher than in the model group (P < 0.01), and the BDNF content in the raphe nuclei was lower than in the model group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in tPA and BDNF mRNA between the EA and model groups. CONCLUSION: EA may reverse depressive-like behaviors in CUMS, which may be related to the tPA/BDNF pathway in the hippocampus.
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@#Objective To observe the change of coagulation function in chronic stress depression model rats and the effects of elec-troacupuncture (EA) on it. Methods A total of 32 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided in control group (n=8), model group (n=8), EA group (n=8) and fluoxetine group (n=8) after a week of acclimation. The 21-day unpredictable mild stress combined with solitarily feed-ing was used to make the depression model in the latter three groups, meanwhile EA group and the fluoxetine group accepted EA and fluox-etine. They were measured the prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT) and fibrinogen (FIB). Serum levels of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α(6-keto-PGF1α), P-selectin, thromboxane B2 (TXB2) were determined with enzyme-linked im-munoabsorbent assay. Results The cross and rear scores were significantly lower in the model group than in the control group (P<0.01). The scores increased in EA group and the fluoxetine group (P<0.01) compared with the model group. Compared with the control group, PT, APTT and TT decreased (P<0.01), FIB increased (P<0.05), the level of 6-keto-PGF1αdecreased, the level of P-selectin and TXB2 increased (P<0.01) in the model group. Compared with the model group, PT, APTT and TT increased (P<0.05), the level of 6-keto-PGF1αincreased (P<0.01), and the level of P-selectin and TXB2 decreased (P<0.05) in EA group and the fluoxetine group, and FIB decreased in EA group (P<0.05). Conclusion The chronic stress depression rats are impaired in the coagulation function and platelet activation, and can be allayed with electroacupuncture and fluoxetine.
RESUMO
@#Objective To explore the biological mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA) for depression. Methods Forty male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group (n=8), model group (n=8), EA group (n=8) and fluoxetine group (n=8). Depressive models were established with lonely raising and chronic unpredictable mild stress. They were tested with Open-field Test, and the expression of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4)A and PDE4D in hippocampus was detected with RT-PCR. Results The cross and rear scores were significantly lower in the model group than in the control group (P<0.001), while it increased in the EA group and the fluoxetine group (P<0.001). Compared with the model group, the expression of PDE4A and PDE4D decreased in the EA group (P<0.001). Conclusion Electroacupuncture may relieve depression through inhibiting the expression of PDE4A and PDE4D.
