title: Antidepressive-like effects of electroacupuncture in rats.
abstract: Here, we investigate the effects of electroacupunture on the depressive-like symptoms in learned helplessness and forced swim tests in rats. Electroacupuncture stimulation (EA) was provided at ST-36 (Zusanli) and SP-6 (Sanyinjiao) acupoints. A positive control group was treated with imipramine. To verify the effects of EA over serotonergic system, other additional groups received daily, for three days, p-chlorophenylalanine and after two days, were submitted to behavioral tests. EA, like imipramine, enhanced the successful active avoidance in the learned helplessness and diminished the time spent in immobility position in the forced swim test, without affecting the number of squares crossed in the open field test. The administration of p-chlorophenylalanine abolished the antidepressive-like effect of EA. EA generates a clear antidepressant effect in two different animal models of depression, and this effect is related, at least in part, to the serotonergic system.
authors: Department of Physiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Jair Guilherme
authors: JG
authors: Dos Santos
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Kawano
authors: Márcio Makoto
authors: MM
authors: Nishida
authors: Ysao
authors: Y
authors: Yamamura
authors: Luiz Eugênio
authors: LE
authors: Mello
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Tabosa
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006380:Helplessness, Learned; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D013550:Swimming / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D012701:Serotonin; D010134:Fenclonine