Effects of electroacupuncture and fluoxetine on behavior and apoptosis of hippocampal cells in chronic stress rat

Objective To study the effects of electroacupuncture and fluoxetine on apoptosis in the hippocampus in chronic stress depression rats.Methods Sixty-five Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into control group,control group combining with electroacupuncture,model group, electroacupuncture group and fluoxetine group.The model was produced by chronic unpredictable mild stress.Open-filed test was used to detect the behavior of rats.Annexin V-FITC/ PI method was used to detect the apoptotic rates in the hippecampus.Immunohistocbemical technique was used to detect the expression of bcl-2 protein.Results After stress,the model group rats' crossing numbers ( 1.6 ± 1.3 ), rearing times (0.4 ±0.2),body weight changes(34 ± 18) g were markedly less than that of control group rats'[(51.1 ±22.3)times,(13.2 ±4.6)times,( 128 ±21 )g;P ＜0.05],and the hippocampal apoptotic rates and the expression of bcl-2 was higher in model group than control group ( P ＜ 0.05 ).In comparison with the model group,the crossing times,rearing times,body weight changes increased in electroacupuncture group[(39.3 ±14.3 ) times,( 9.6 ±4.1 ) times,( 81 ±43 ) g]and fluoxetine group[(37.2 ± 15.1 ) times,(9.3 ± 4.6) times,( 80 ± 35 ) g],( P ＜ 0.05 ),and the apoptotic rates of the electroaxupuncture group and fluoxetine group were lower ( P ＜ 0.05 ),the expression of bcl-2 were higher ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Those indexes have not apparently differences between electroacupuncture group and fluoxetine group ( P＞ 0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture and fluoxetine treatment could improve the behavior of depression induced by stress,which may be related to hippecampal apoptosis. Key words: Stress; Depression; Electroacupuneture; Fluoxetine; Behavior; Hippocampus; Apoptosis