KMCRIC

Acupuncture stimulation at HT7 alleviates depression-induced behavioral changes via regulation of the serotonin system in the prefrontal cortex of maternally-separated rat pups.

Park H, Yoo D, Kwon S, Yoo TW, Park HJ, Hahm DH, Lee H, Kim ST.

J Physiol Sci.

2012

62(4)

351-7.

10.1007/s12576-012-0211-1.

22627707

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22627707

Acupuncture Points
Acupuncture Therapy*
Animals
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism
Depression/physiopathology*
Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid/metabolism
Maternal Deprivation*
Models, Animal
Motor Activity/physiology
Prefrontal Cortex/metabolism
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Serotonin/metabolism*
Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism

Acupuncture; HT7; Depression; Serotonin transporter; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Maternal separation

침 치료; 신문; 우울증; 세로토닌 수송체; 뇌유래신경영양인자; 산모 격리

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The present study investigated a possible role of acupuncture in alleviating depression-like behavioral changes and regulating serotonin signaling in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of maternally-separated rat pups. On postnatal day 15, rat pups were maternally-separated and received acupuncture stimulation at acupoint HT7 or ST36 once a day for 7 days. On postnatal day 21, the tail suspension test was performed and the PFC was harvested. Tissue levels of serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) were then measured by high performance liquid chromatography analysis and the expressions of serotonin transporter (5-HTT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were assessed by Western blotting. The levels of 5-HT and 5-HIAA were not significantly changed, but 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio was significantly increased by maternal separation. The immobility time of maternally-separated rat pups was increased, and increased 5-HTT expression and decreased BDNF level were observed in the PFC. But acupuncture stimulation at HT7 alleviated the behavioral change and regulated the changes of 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio, 5-HTT and BDNF. In conclusion, acupuncture stimulation at HT7 can relieve the maternal separation-induced changes, and we propose that the regulations of 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio and 5-HTT expression by acupuncture stimulation play an important role in the acupuncture-induced benefits in this animal model of depression.

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