title: [Development of studies on neurochemical mechanism of acupuncture underlying improvement of depression].
abstract: Chronic stress often results in neurochemical changes in the central nervous system and may lead to the onset of depression. These neurochemical changes refer to alterations of activities of neurotransmitters, neuromediators, hormones and neuronal plasticity, etc. The underlying mechanism of acupuncture in the antidepressant effect is related to its regulatory effect on the neurochemical imbalance. In the present review, the authors summarize the progress of experimental researches on acupuncture treatment of depression from (1) monoamines neurotransmitters and their receptors, (2) gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate, (3) neuropeptide Y, (4) hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and hypothalamus-pituitary-throid axis activities, and (5) brain-derived neurotrophic factor. In addition, the authors also make an evaluation on the insufficiency of current studies and put forwards some suggestions on the future study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Acu-moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Ling-ling
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Ru-peng
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xin-yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ben
authors.forename: Pei-jing
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Rong
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents