Li Hao, Sang Lan, Xia Xing, Zhao Ruirui, Wang Mingyue, Hou Xiaofei, Xiong Jiawei, Cao Tiemin, Liu Xiaoquan, Zhang Jianbin
Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Jiangsu Provincial Second Chinese Medicine Hospital/The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210017, China.
Center of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 Aug 27;2019:7592124. doi: 10.1155/2019/7592124. eCollection 2019.
Moxibustion has been widely accepted as an alternative therapy for major depressive disease (MDD). However, the efficacy of moxibustion treatment on MDD is highly variable because of its irregular operation. This study was designed to investigate how therapeutic duration and extent influence the anti-depression effect of moxibustion and the underlying mechanism involved. Rats with lipopolysaccharide-induced depression-like behavior were treated by moxibustion treatment. The anti-depression effect was determined by forced swimming test and open field test. Tryptophan (Trp) transport and its metabolism to serotonin (5-HT) and kynurenine (Kyn) were evaluated to explore the anti-depression mechanism. The results showed that moxibustion treatment could alleviate the depression-like behavior in rats. Trp transport and 5-HT generation were significantly increased, and the Trp-Kyn pathway was moderately inhibited by moxibustion. Prolonged therapy could be beneficial to the anti-depression effect by promoting the brain uptake of Trp and shifting the Trp metabolism to 5-HT. An enhanced therapeutic extent could increase 5-HT generation. In conclusion, this study determined that the anti-depression effect of moxibustion involves improved Trp transport and metabolism. The therapeutic duration benefits antidepressant effects, but the complex influence of the therapeutic extent on moxibustion efficacy requires further studies.
艾灸已被广泛认可为治疗重度抑郁症(MDD)的一种替代疗法。然而,由于艾灸操作不规范,其治疗MDD的疗效差异很大。本研究旨在探讨治疗时长和范围如何影响艾灸的抗抑郁效果及其潜在机制。对脂多糖诱导的具有抑郁样行为的大鼠进行艾灸治疗。通过强迫游泳试验和旷场试验来确定抗抑郁效果。评估色氨酸(Trp)转运及其向血清素(5-HT)和犬尿氨酸(Kyn)的代谢情况,以探究抗抑郁机制。结果表明,艾灸治疗可减轻大鼠的抑郁样行为。艾灸可显著增加Trp转运和5-HT生成,并适度抑制Trp-Kyn途径。延长治疗时间可能通过促进大脑对Trp的摄取并将Trp代谢转向5-HT而有利于抗抑郁效果。增强治疗范围可增加5-HT生成。总之,本研究确定艾灸的抗抑郁作用涉及改善Trp转运和代谢。治疗时长有利于抗抑郁作用,但治疗范围对艾灸疗效的复杂影响需要进一步研究。