Screening Of "Jieyu Prescription" Acupoints And Its Effect On ERK Signal Transduction In Rat Depression Model

Objective: This study was conducted by acupuncture treatment of rat model ofchronic stress-induced depression and screening the best formula for acupuncture treatmentof depression, in order to provide scientific laboratory evidences for its clinical applicationand unified experimental data. Based on the screened "Jieyu Prescription", its effect onErk1expression in ERK pathway of hippocampus in rat model of chronic stress-induceddepression was studied in order to clarify the mechanism of acupuncture the best "JieyuPrescription" for treatment of depression.Methods:1.90SD rats were randomly divided into nine groups, including the blankgroup (n=10), the model group (n=10), and the acupuncture intervention group (n=70). The"Jieyu Prescription" acupoints were divided into seven groups according to permutationand combination rule, including Baihui group, Shenmen group, Taichong group, Baihui+Shenmen group, Shenmen+Taichong group, Baihui+Taichong group, and Baihui+Shenmen+Taichong group. Expect for the normal group, the model group and theacupuncture intervention groups (seven) were all given chronic stimulation and solitaryraise. While modeling, the intervention groups received electro-acupuncture treatment.21days later, the changes in body weight of rats, sugar and water consumptions, and behaviorscores for the open-field test were measured in each group respectively.2. Rats wererandomly divided into the control group (n=10), the model group (n=10), and the Baihui+Taichong+Shenmen group (n=10). The model group and Baihui+Taichong+Shenmengroup were modeled as described above. Simultaneously, the Baihui+Taichong+Shenmen group received the electro-acupuncture treatment. All rats were decapitated fortaking brains after21days. The right hippocampus tissues were integrity dissected forpreparation of paraffin sections. The immunohistochemical staining was used for detectionof Erk1expression in rat hippocampus.Results:1. There were no differences in body weight, sugar and water consumption,and the numbers of horizontal and vertical movements between groups before theexperiment (p>0.05). The body weights at the seventh and fourth days in the model groupwere different from the control group (p<0.05), and the body weight, sugar and waterconsumption, and numbers of horizontal and vertical movements at the seventh and21thday in the model group were all different from the control group (p<0.05), suggesting the successful modeling. Expect for the Shenmen+Taichong group and the Baihui+Shenmengroup, the body weights in other acupuncture intervention groups were all increased invarying degrees at the seventh and fourth days compared with the model group (p<0.05),and the body weights in the Baihui+Shenmen group and the Shenmen+Taichong groupwere significantly different from the Baihui+Shenmen+Taichong group (p<0.05). At the21th day, expect for the Baihui+Shenmen group and the Shenmen+Taichong group, thebody weights in other acupuncture intervention groups were all different from the modelgroup (p<0.05); the sugar and water consumption only in the Baihui+Shenmen+Taichong group was different from the the model group (p<0.05); the numbers of verticalmovements in the Baihui group, Baihui+Taichong group, Shenmen+Taichong group,Baihui+Taichong+Shenmen group were different from the model group (p<0.05); expectfor the Baihui group, the Taichong group, and the Shenmen group, the numbers ofhorizontal movements in other acupuncture intervention groups were all different from themodel group (p<0.05). Among the acupuncture intervention groups, the sugar and waterconsumption was not different only between Baihui+Taichong+Shenmen group and thecontrol group (p>0.05), suggesting that the rats in the Baihui+Taichong+Shenmen groupbasically reached the normal levels after treatment; the body weights, and the numbers ofhorizontal and vertical movements in the remaining acupuncture intervention groups weredifferent from the Baihui+Taichong+Shenmen group (p<0.05), particularly in theBaihui+Shenmen+Taichong group.2. The relative content of Erk1-positive neurons inthe Baihui+Taichong+Shenmen group was almost no different from the control group(p>0.05).Conclusions:1. Acupuncture treatment of the rat model of chronic stress-induceddepression does have a certain effect. Rat depression-related symptoms were all improvedafter treatment. The behavioral results suggest the best "Jieyu Prescription" as Baihui+Taichong+Shenmen acupoints, providing good experimental evidences for future relatedtheoretical discourse.2. During bouts of depression, Erk1expression in rat hippocampus isrestricted, thereby inhibiting the activity of ERK pathway. Acupuncture of "JieyuPrecription" can effectively improve Erk1expression, activate the ERK pathway, andreduce the bouts of depression.