Effect of Acupuncture and Moxibustion on Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor in the Chronic Mild Unpredictable Stressors Depression Rats

Objective:In order to investigate the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the animal model of chronic stressed depression and the treating mechanism of depression with acupuncture and moxibustion.Methods:70 male wistar rats were randomly allocated to ten groups as follows:control,depression model,saline,acupuncture,electric acupuncture and moxibustion of points and tanzhong,neiguan and amitriptyline.The changes of BDNF level and BDNFmRNA expression were observed by immunohistochemistry and insituhybridization.Results:BDNF like immunoreactivity and signals of BDNFmRNA insituhybridization in all the groups' cortex and hippocampus CA1 district.Compared with control group,the BDNF like immunoreactivity and signals of BDNFmRNA insituhybridization in model group and saline group were significantly decreased;the treatment group can increase the number of the BDNF like immunoreactivity and signals of BDNFmRNA insituhybridization in the depressed animal;the number of the BDNF like immunoreactivity and signals of BDNFmRNA insituhybridization in electric acupuncture group is more than that in acupuncture group,while acupuncture group is more than moxibustion group;the number of the BDNF like immunoreactivity and signals of BDNFmRNA insituhybridization in baihui,taichong group is more than that in tanzhong,neiguan group.Conclusions:Acupuncture and moxibustion treat depressed rats with increasing BDNF to protect injured neurons in cortex and hippocampus.