title: Anxiolytic-like behavioural effects of head electroacupuncture in rats susceptible to stress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the behavioural effects of head electroacupuncture (EA) using the Holtzman rat model, a genetic strain showing susceptibility to stress-evoked helplessness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Putative anxiolytic and antidepressant behavioural effects of head EA were investigated using the light-dark and forced swim tests, respectively. The open field test was used to investigate motor activity. A total of 28 rats were used in two experiments, each with two groups (n=7 rats each). Rats were restrained and randomised to handling only (control) or 2Hz EA on the midline head anteriorly (at Yintang) and posteriorly (at GV20) for 3 days (experiment 1) or 4 days (experiment 2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One day of EA did not modify behaviour in any of the tests (p>0.1); however, 2 days of 2 Hz EA treatment to the head had anxiolytic-like effects, as indicated by an improvement in ambulatory time and average velocity in the light-dark test (experiment 2). Relative to the control group, the EA group demonstrated greater ambulatory time (37.0±3.7 vs 25.2±3.6 s, p<0.05) and lower average velocity (2.73±0.06 vs 3.08±0.13 cm/s, p<0.05). However, EA treatment had no significant effects on the open field and forced swim tests in either experiment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two days of EA treatment using 2 Hz pulsating electrical current at midline anterior and posterior acupuncture points on the head induces behavioural effects suggestive of anxiolysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.affiliation: AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine, Austin, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Yuxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Lima
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D006257:Head; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012149:Restraint, Physical
keywords: PSYCHOLOGY