Han Wen-Hua, Wang Wen-Rui, Dong Ai-Ai, Wang Wei-Feng
The Second Clinical College of Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Jinzhong 030619, Shanxi Province, China.
Shanxi Acupuncture and Moxibustion Hospital, Taiyuan 030012.
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2025 Mar 25;50(3):270-276. doi: 10.13702/j.1000-0607.20230891.
To observe the effect of acupuncture at "Baihui" (GV20), "Shenmen" (HT7) and "Taichong" (LR3) (an acupoint prescription "Jieyufang" for treatment of depression) on inflammatory response and oxidative stress in depression rats induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS).
Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into control, model, medication and acupuncture groups, with 10 rats in each group. The depression model was established by CUMS stress stimulation for 28 days. Acupuncture was delivered at "Baihui" (GV20), "Shenmen"(HT7) and "Taichong"(LR3) for 20 min, once a day for 28 days. Rats of the medication group received gavage of paroxetine hydrochloride (3.3 mg/kg) once a day for 28 days. Depressive behavior was evaluated by body weight, sucrose preference and tail suspension test. The contents of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-10 in serum, and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in hippocampus were detected by ELISA. H.E. staining was used to observe the morphological changes of hippocampus. The expression levels of nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Kelch-like epichlorohydrin-related protein factor 1 (keap1) in hippocampus were detected by Western blot.
Compared with the control group, the body weight, sucrose preference index, contents of serum IL-10 and SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activities in the hippocampus, the expression level of Nrf2 protein were significantly decreased (<0.05, <0.01);while the tail-suspension immobility time, contents of serum IL-6, IL-1β and MDA in hippocampus, the expression level of keap1 were increased (<0.01) in the model group. Relevant to the model group, all the indexes mentioned above were reversed in both medication and acupuncture groups (<0.05, <0.01). H.E. staining showed severe damage of hippocampal neurons, which was milder in medication and acupuncture groups.
EA of acupoint recipe "Jieyufang" can improve the depression-like behavior of CUMS rats, inhibit inflammatory response and oxidative stress, which may be related to its functions in activating Nrf2.
观察针刺“百会”（GV20）、“神门”（HT7）和“太冲”（LR3）（治疗抑郁症的穴位处方“解郁方”）对慢性不可预测温和应激（CUMS）诱导的抑郁症大鼠炎症反应和氧化应激的影响。
40只雄性SD大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组、药物组和针刺组，每组10只。采用CUMS应激刺激28天建立抑郁症模型。针刺“百会”（GV20）、“神门”（HT7）和“太冲”（LR3）20分钟，每日1次，共28天。药物组大鼠每日灌胃盐酸帕罗西汀（3.3mg/kg），共28天。通过体重、蔗糖偏好和悬尾试验评估抑郁行为。采用ELISA法检测血清白细胞介素（IL）-6、IL-1β、IL-10含量以及海马中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）活性和丙二醛（MDA）含量。采用苏木精-伊红（H.E.）染色观察海马形态学变化。采用蛋白质印迹法检测海马中核因子E2相关因子2（Nrf2）和Kelch样环氧氯丙烷相关蛋白因子1（keap1）的表达水平。
与对照组相比，模型组大鼠体重、蔗糖偏好指数、血清IL-10含量、海马中SOD、CAT和GSH-Px活性以及Nrf2蛋白表达水平显著降低（<0.05，<0.01）；而悬尾不动时间、血清IL-6、IL-1β含量、海马中MDA含量以及keap1表达水平升高（<0.01）。与模型组相比，药物组和针刺组上述各项指标均得到改善（<0.05，<0.01）。H.E.染色显示海马神经元严重损伤，药物组和针刺组损伤较轻。
穴位处方“解郁方”电针可改善CUMS大鼠的抑郁样行为，抑制炎症反应和氧化应激，这可能与其激活Nrf2的作用有关。
