[Effects of electroacupuncture at different acupoint groups on behavior activity and p-CREB expression in hippocampus in the rat of depression].
OBJECTIVE
To observe therapeutic effects and mechanisms at different acupoint groups for treatment of the depression rat.


METHODS
Fifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a body acupoint group, a scalp acupoint group and a Fluoxetine hydrochloride group, 10 cases in each group. Depression rat model was established by using chronic unpredictable mild stress stimulation combined with lonely breeding for 21 days. EA (2 Hz, 1 mA, 20 min) was given at "Taichong" (LR 3), "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) in the body point group and "Baihui" (GV 20), "Yintang" (EX-HN 3), "Sishencong" (EX-HN 1) in the head point group, once daily, and Fluoxetine hydrochloride was given to the Fluoxetine hydrochloride group by intragastric administration, 2 mg/kg, once daily, for 21 days. Body weight of the rat was recorded, and the sucrose-intake test and forced swimming test were conducted one day before the experiment and on the 7th, 14th and 21st day of the experiment, and the open field test was conducted one day before the experiment and on the 21st day. p-CREB expression in the hippocampus of the rats were observed on the 22nd day.


RESULTS
As compared with the model group, in the head point group and the Fluoxetine group, the crossing and rearing movement times, the relative volume of sucrose-intake and p-CREB expression in the hippocampus increased significantly, and the duration of immovability in forced swimming test shortened significantly (P<0.05). The relative volume of sucrose-intake increased and the duration of immovability in forced swimming test in the body point group significantly shortened (P<0.05), but the crossing and rearing movement times and p-CREB expression in the hippocampus did not insignificantly increase (P>0.05), with no significant differences among the treatment groups (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
EA at the head acupoints can improve behavioral activities and increase positive neuron number of p-CREB in the hippocampus of the depression rat, and selection of acupoints is of important role in treatment of depression.
Duan
Dong-mei
DM
Section of TCM and Acupuncture, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China. dongmei-d@hotmail.com
Tu
Ya
Y
Chen
Li-ping
LP
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013550:Swimming
D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein