Effect of Electroacupuncture on Neuron Ultrastructure in Hippocampus of Depression Rats

Objective To explore the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on the neuron ultrastructure in hippocampus of depression rats.Methods Thirty-two adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: blank control group,model group,western medicine group and EA group(EA on points of Hegu and Taichong),8 rats in each group.Rats in the blank control group did not receive any stimulation during the modeling,and rats in the model group were induced depression by chronic mild stress.After stress stimulation,rats in the western medicine group were treated with fluoxertine hydrochloride in the dosage of 1.8 mg·kg-1·d-1 for 21 days,and EA group was given EA stimulation for 15 minutes,once per day for 21 days.On the 22nd day of stress,rats were executed with neck-dislocating way,and the hippocampus was taken for Nissl's staining and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).Results The number of neurons was decreased,and significant ultrastructure changes and severe damage of neurons in the hippocampus were found in the model group.The ultrastructure changes and damage of neurons in the hippocampus of western medicine group and EA group were markedly mild as compared with those in the model group.Conclusion EA shows an effect on reversing the neural damage in the hippocampus of depression rats induced by chronic stress,which is one of the possible mechanisms of acupuncture against depression.