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Electroacupuncture ameliorates chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression-like behavior and cognitive impairment through suppressing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in rats

Tong T 1 , Hao C 2 , Shen J 3 , Liu S 4 , Yan S 5 , Aslam MS 6 Show all authors , Chen Y 7 , Chen W 8 , Li J 9 , Li Y 10 , Zeng J 11 , Li M 12 , You Z 13 , Gulizhaerkezi T 14 , Wei S 15 , Zhu A 16 , Meng X 17

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; Second Clinical College, Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, Shanxi, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 2 Second Clinical College, Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, Shanxi, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 3 Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 4 Longyan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Xiamen University, Longyan, Fujian, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 5 Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 6 School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiamen University Malaysia, Sepang, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 7 Second Clinical College, Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, Shanxi, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 8 Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 9 Second Clinical College, Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, Shanxi, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 10 The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 11 Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 12 Second Clinical College, Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, Shanxi, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 13 Second Clinical College, Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, Shanxi, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 14 Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 15 Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 16 Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 17 Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected]
Brain Res Bull, 2024 Jan;206:110838.
PMID: 38123022 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110838

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Depression is associated with lowered mood, anxiety, anhedonia, cognitive impairments, and even suicidal tendencies in severe cases. Yet few studies have directed acupuncture's mechanism toward enhancing axonal repair correlated with synaptic plasticity and anti-inflammatory effects related to oxidative stress in the hippocampus.

METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control group (CON), chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) group, CUMS + electroacupuncture group (EA), and CUMS + fluoxetine group (FLX) (n = 10/group). Rats were given a 28-day treatment at the Shangxing (GV23) and Fengfu (GV16) acupoints with electroacupuncture or fluoxetine (2.1 mg/kg).

RESULTS: Rats exposed to CUMS induced depression-like behaviors and spatial learning-memory impairment, changed the ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA-1), Vglut1, myelin basic protein (MBP), and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) level of hippocampal, increased the Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), atypical squamous cell (ASC), Caspase level and hippocampal reactive oxygen species (ROS), and prompted the activation of Epha4-mediated signaling and an inflammatory response. Conversely, electroacupuncture administration reduced these changes and prevented depression-like behaviors and cognitive impairment. Electroacupuncture also promoted hippocampal expression of Sirtuin1(SIRT1), Nuclear factor erythroid 2-like (Nrf2), Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1); reduced the expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-18 (IL-18), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α); and prevented neural damage, particularly the synaptic myelin sheath, and neuroinflammation by regulating Eph receptor A4 (EphA4) in the hippocampal.

CONCLUSION: These results indicate that electroacupuncture prevents depression-like behaviors with cognitive impairment and synaptic and neuronal damage, probably by reducing EphA4, which mediates ROS hyperfunction and the inflammatory response.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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