Effect Of Electroacupuncture On CUMS Induced Rats Comorbid Anxiety And Depressive-like Behaviors And INOS Expression

Objective:To observe the electroacupuncture(EA)effect on CUMS induced rats comorbid anxiety and depressive-like behaviors and iNOS expression in their hippocampus.Methods:60 SD rats are randomly divided into control group(n=9)and Experiment group(n=51).Experiment group rats are preconditioned with chronic unpredictable mild stress for 21 days.Anxiety behaviour is accessed by Elevated Plus Maze test and depression behaviour is accessed by Open Field Test.Rats comorbid anxiety and depressive-like behaviors(CAD model rats)are screened and randomly divided into model group,electroacupuncture group(EA),Aminoguanidine group(AG,an iNOS inhibitor)and EA+AG group(n=9).After receiving AG(50 mg/kg/day,i.p.)and EA treatment(Baihui,GV 20;Yintang,EX-HN 3;15 min/day)for 14 days,behavior is tested again.Additionally,iNOS expression in the hippocampus is accessed by Western Blot and immunohistochemistry,iNOS mRNA expression is accessed by Real time-PCR.Results:1.Compared to the CAD model group,EA and AG groups showed varied degrees of reduced anxiety and depression behaviours and reduced hippocampal iNOS expression(P<0.05).2.There was no significant difference observed in the behaviour and iN OS expression between EA and AG groups(P>0.05).3,EA+AG group showed greater degree in reduced anxiety and depression-like behaviours and reduced hippocampal iNOS expression when compared to EA or AG group(P<0.05).Conclusion:EA is equally effective as AG in the anti-anxiety and depression behaviour effect and reduction of iNOS expression.The anti-anxiety and depression behaviour effect of EA is correlated to the reduction in the expression of iNOS,and the treatment of EA+AG shows additive effect.