Effects of Acupuncture on Expression of Neurologic Factors in Hippocampus of Depression Rats

Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture on brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) and nerve growth factor(NGF) expression in the hippocampus of depression rats,and to explore its possible anti-depression mechanism.Methods SD rats were randomized into the normal group,model group,acupuncture group and western medicine group.Rat models of depression were established by chronic unpredictable mild stress and by isolated raising.The western medicine group received gastric gavage of fluoxetine hydrochloride(in the dose of 2 mg·kg-1·d-1),and the acupuncture group received acupuncture on acupoints of Baihui(GV20),Xinshu(BL15) and Ganshu(BL17),once per day for 21 days.After treatment,the expression of BDNF and NGF in the hippocampus of rats was detected by immunohistochemical assay.Results The number of cells with BDNF and NGF positive expression in the hippocampus of model group was decreased(P0.01 compared with the normal group),while was increased in the acupuncture group and western medicine group(P0.05 compared with the model group).Conclusion The possible antidepressant mechanism of acupuncture is related with the increase of protein expression of BDNF and NGF in the hippocampus of depression rats.