Comparative Study On The Effects Of Acupuncture At Different Acupoints On Behavior And HPA - Related Hormones In Depressive Rats

Objectives:The research is to observe the influences of two point groups of "Baihui, Dazhui "and "Neiguan, Taichong" on the Changes of Behavior and Hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis in CUMS depression model rats from the two perspectives of unblocking Du meridian to regulate Shen and Shugan jieyu according to the theory of internal organs and meridians, and further investigate the differences of two acupuncture groups on the antidepressant function and therapeutic effect. Finally, the research is in order to clarify the traditional Chinese medicine understanding of "liver qi stagnation "and" mental disorder " of depression, and in order to provide experimental evidence for two acupuncture treatments of depression from unblocking Du meridian to regulate Shen and Shugan jieyu.Methods:46 SD healthy male rats after one week of daptive feeding were selected by the Similar horizontal and vertical movement scores of the open-field test, and randomly divided into a normal group (8 rats) and a model group (8 rats) according to body weight. Depression rat model was established by using chronic unpredictable mild stress stimulation combined with lonely breeding. After two weeks, the successful depression model rats were chosen and randomly divided into a model group (8 rats), a western medicine group (8 rats), a unblocking Du meridian to regulate Shen group (8 rats) and a Shugan jieyu group (8 rats) Three treatment groups received relevant treatments for three weeks, six times a week. The model group was not given any treatment. The rat’s behavior was observed one time a week and related hormones of Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal Axis were detected with radioimmunoassay techniques after three weeks.Results:(1) Compared with the normal group, the body weight, consumption of sucrose and scores of open-field test of the model group decline significantly (P<0.05) on the 14th day after making models and after 3 weeks of the treatment. It is show that the models are duplicated successfully and stably.(2) Compared with the model group, the body weight、consumption of sucrose and scores of open-field test of two acupuncture groups are significantly increase (P<0.05) after 3 weeks of the treatment. The result also shows that the unblocking Du to regulate Shen group is significantly higher than Shugan jieyu group (P<0.05) on the level movement scores of the open-field test, but their other behavioural indicators show no statistical differences.(3) On the three indexes of CRH hypothalamus, pituitary ACTH and adrenal CORT contents, the model group shows significantly increase (P< 0.05) than the normal group after 3 weeks of the treatment, but the two acupuncture groups are significantly lower (P< 0.05) than the model group and there is no statistical difference between the two acupuncture groups.(4) On the indexe of CORT content, the model group shows significantly increase (P< 0.05) than the normal group after 3 weeks of the treatment. The unblocking Du to regulate Shen group is significantly lower (P< 0.05) than the model group, but Shugan jieyu group shows no statistical differences with the model group. And there is no statistical difference between the two acupuncture groups.Conclusion:(1) The research established depression rat model by using chronic unpredictable mild stress stimulation combined with lonely breeding, and confirmed that the model had Some depressive behavior such as anhedonia, loss of interest, the decline of abilities of exercise and curious behavior, weight loss which were owned by depressed patients. The depression rat model was successful and effective for more than 1 months, which was helpful to the observation of the experiment. It was a successful and stable model of depression. This experiment give treatment after building the model, which is more consistent with the producing and treatment process of the clinical disease.(2) The two point groups of "Baihui, Dazhui "and "Neiguan, Taichong" can obviously improve the behavioural indicators of depression model rat, moreover, the point group of "Baihui, Dazhui" is slightly better than the point group of "Neiguan, Taichong".(3) The two point groups of "Baihui, Dazhui "and "Neiguan, Taichong" can adjust the hyperactivity of the HPA axis and two groups effect quite, which might be one of the antidepressant mechanisms.(4) On the two point groups of "Baihui, Dazhui "and "Neiguan, Taichong" adjusting the hyperactivity of the HPA axis, it is through the positive adjustment or negative feedback regulation and play a regulatory role in many aspects or a single aspect, which need be further in-depth study.(5) On the indexe of CORT content, the two point groups are obviously difference, which is quite different with the Considerable effect of the two point groups on the adjusting the hyperactivity of the HPA axis. Whether there is a difference between the release of adrenal cortisol and the metabolism of cortisol, which is worthwhile to further study.