Effects of Acupuncture on Chronic Stress-Induced Depression-Like Behavior and Its Central Neural Mechanism

Abstract

Depression is a serious psychiatric disorder with an enormous socioeconomic burden, and it is commonly comorbid with pain, chronic fatigue, or other inflammatory diseases. Recent studies have shown that acupuncture is an effective therapeutic method for reducing depressive symptoms; however, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of acupuncture on chronic stress-induced depression-like behavior and its central neural mechanisms in the brain. We induced chronic restraint stress (CRS) in male C57BL/6 mice for 14 or 28 consecutive days. Acupuncture treatment was performed at KI10·LR8·LU8·LR4 or control points for 7 or 14 days. Depression-like behavior was assessed with the open field test. Then, brain neural activity involving c-Fos and serotonin-related mechanisms via the 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors were investigated. Acupuncture treatment at KI10·LR8·LU8·LR4 points rescued the depressive-like behavior, while control points (LU8·LR4·HT8·LR2) and non-acupoints on the hips did not. Brain neural activity was changed in the hippocampus, cingulate cortex, motor cortex, insular cortex, thalamus, and the hypothalamus after acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture treatment increased expression of 5-HT1A receptor in the cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, and the hypothalamus, and of 5-HT1B in the cortex and thalamus. In conclusion, acupuncture treatment at KI10·LR8·LU8·LR4 was effective in alleviating the depressive-like behavior in mice, and this therapeutic effect was produced through central brain neural activity and serotonin receptor modulation.

Acupuncture for Chronic Pain-Related Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Recent studies have provided laboratory-based evidence that acupuncture treatment can increase the expression of 5-HT1A receptors in the cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, and hypothalamus, as well as the expression of 5-HT1B in the cortex and thalamus. Therefore, acupuncture can effectively relieve depression symptoms [ 19 , 43 ].…”

“…Modern research has shown that acupuncture can stimulate the neuroendocrine of the body by stimulating specific points on the body. Therefore, acupuncture has a satisfactory therapeutic effect on diseases involving neuroendocrine pathological changes (such as chronic pain, menopause, depression, and insomnia) [ 19 , 20 ], with a very rare occurrence of adverse events.…”

<p>Long-Term Beneficial Effects of Acupuncture with Reduced Risk of Depression Development Following Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study</p>

“… 41 In addition, acupuncture could relieve depression-like behavior in the chronic restraint stress mice model by modulating the central brain neural activity and serotonin receptor. 42 Acupuncture relief for depressive disorders was proven by regulating the mTOR signal, neuropeptide Y, ERK-CREB pathway, glial glutamate transporter, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. 42 Decreased serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the central nervous system, chronic inflammation, and increase of glutamate are related to the increased risk of developing depression in TN.…”

Early-Life Stress Alters Synaptic Plasticity and mTOR Signaling: Correlation With Anxiety-Like and Cognition-Related Behavior

“…At PND39, the pups in the CRS and MS + CRS groups were subjected to CRS according to a previously reported protocol ( Campos et al, 2013 ; Lee et al, 2019 ). Briefly, the mice were placed in 50-mL conical tubes with air holes drilled into the sides to restrict their movements for 3 h (9:00–12:00 h) daily for 3 weeks.…”