title: Effect of electroacupuncture on serum copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium levels in the depression rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on serum copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium levels in the rat models of depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty healthy SD male rats were divided into a normal group, a model group, an EA group, and a maprotiline group, 10 in each with completely random. The depression models were prepared with isolated chronic unpredictable stress method in the latter three groups. EA was given at Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (EX-HN3), Fenglong (ST 40), and Taichong (LR 3) in the EA group from the second day of modeling, once every other day, 15 min each time. The maprotiline group was administered intragastrically suspension of maprotiline (10 mg/kg), once each day. After treatment for 3 weeks, serum copper and zinc levels were detected with atomic absorption method, and the serum calcium with Arsenazo III method and magnesium with MTB method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the normal group, the serum copper level (3.90 +/- 1.20 mmol/L) significantly increased and the serum zinc level (2.08 +/- 0.44 mmol/L) significantly decreased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the serum copper level (2.62 +/- 1.03 mmol/L) significantly decreased, the serum zinc level (2.55 +/- 0.38 mmol/L) significantly increased (P < 0.05), but the serum calcium and magnesium levels did not significantly change in the EA group and the maprotiline group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EA can regulate the change of copper and zinc levels in the body induced by depression, which is possibly one of mechanisms of effectively improving depression symptoms.
authors: Department of traditional Chinese Medicine in Medical College, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
authors: Hai-Hong
authors: HH
authors: Zhou
authors: Fan
authors: F
authors: Lu
authors: Shao-Dong
authors: SD
authors: Chen
authors: Zhi-Hua
authors: ZH
authors: Zhou
authors: Yong-Zhu
authors: YZ
authors: Han
authors: Ji-Yuan
authors: JY
authors: Hu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium