title: Effects of electroacupuncture on depression and the production of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor compared with fluoxetine: a randomized controlled pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Postmortem studies indicate that the number and density of glial cells are reduced in different brain regions of patients with depression. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of depressive disorder (DD) and might be a biomarker for damage to nerve cells. In this study, we compared the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, on DD patients, focusing on the serum level of GDNF.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective, randomized clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five patients with DD from the Department of Acupuncture, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, were recruited.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients were treated with acupuncture for 6 weeks on the acupoints of Baihui (DU20) and Zusanli (ST36). Sixteen patients were treated with acupuncture for 6 weeks on the acupoints of Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Neiguan (PC6), and Shenmen (HT7), and constituted the electroacupuncture control group. The patients received acupuncture treatment five times per week. Twenty-five patients were treated with oral fluoxetine (20 mg/day) for 6 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  All subjects were evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale at four time points (0 [baseline], 2, 4, and 6 weeks after treatment). Serum GDNF was quantified in duplicate by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  EA and fluoxetine had similar curative effects on DD patients. EA had a faster onset of action, better response rate, and better improvement rate than fluoxetine. Both fluoxetine and EA treatment restored the normal concentration of GDNF in the serum of DD patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EA treatment for depression is as effective as a recommended dose of fluoxetine. However, EA demonstrates an advantage in the regulation of the production of GDNF compared with fluoxetine.
authors: 1 Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital , Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China .
authors: Hua
authors: H
authors: Sun
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Zhao
authors: Chi
authors: C
authors: Ma
authors: Fei
authors: F
authors: Bao
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Dao-hai
authors: DH
authors: Wang
authors: Yun-xiang
authors: YX
authors: Zhang
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: He
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005473:Fluoxetine; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
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