目的:观察电针对慢性束缚应激(CRS)抑郁模型大鼠干预期及恢复期血清促肾上腺皮质激素(ACTH)和肾上腺皮质酮(CORT)表达的影响,探究电针抗抑郁效应及其可能机制。方法:将60只5周龄SD大鼠平均随机分为对照组、模型组和电针组。除对照组外,其余大鼠均采用慢性束缚应激结合孤养处理;电针组选取"百会""印堂"穴在每日应激之前1h进行电针干预20 min,1次/d,共28 d。在实验day7、day28、day35(末次干预结束后第7天)采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)分别检测3组大鼠血清ACTH与CORT激素表达水平。结果:ELISA结果显示,实验day7,3组之间血清ACTH和CORT表达水平差异无统计学意义。与对照组比较,模型组血清ACTH及CORT表达在实验day28和day35显著增加(P〈0.01;P〈0.01;P〈0.01;P〈0.01);与模型组比较,电针组血清ACTH及CORT表达在实验day28和day35显著降低(P〈0.05;P〈0.05;P〈0.01;P〈0.01),电针对慢性束缚应激诱导的大鼠血清ACTH及CORT高表达水平表现出逆转效应。结论:慢性束缚应激诱导的大鼠表现为应激状态下的下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴(HPA轴)功能亢进,其血清ACTH和CORT呈高水平表达。电针干预可显著逆转这种效应,说明电针可对亢进的HPA轴进行调控。在停止干预后的第7天,电针组血清ACTH、CORT表达水平仍显著低于模型组,说明电针干预可对亢进的HPA轴进行持续且有效的调控,这可能是电针抗抑郁的长效机制之一。
Objective: We observed the effects of electro-acupuncture on the expression of serum ACTH and CORT in rats exposed to chronic restraint stress( CRS),to explore the antidepressive effects and possible mechanisms of electro-acupuncture in the treatment of depression. Methods: Sixty SD rats were equally divided into three groups: control group,model group and electro-acupuncture group. Except the control group,all rats were in the condition of chronic restraint stress and separation. The EA group was stimulated at GV 20 and EX-HN 3 for 20 min before daily bound. ACTH and CORT levels were detected by ELISA respectively on the 7th,28 th,35th day( the 7th day after the last intervention). Results: Effects on Serum ACTH and CORT: After 7days,there was no difference among three groups. On the 28 th and the 35 th day,compared with the control group,the model group significantly increased( P 〈 0. 01; P 〈 0. 01; P 〈 0. 01; P 〈 0. 01); Compared with the model group,EA group significantly decreased( P 〈 0. 05; P 〈 0. 05; P 〈 0. 01; P 〈 0. 01). The electro-acupuncture had a reversal effect on the expression of serum ACTH and CORT in rats exposed to chronic restraint stress. Conclusion: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal( HPA) axis hyperactivity is observed in rats exposed to chronic restraint stress,and its level of serum ACTH and CORT are significantly higher.The level of serum ACTH and CORT are reversed by EA intervention,which suggests that EA intervention can regulate HPA axis hyperactivity. The 7th day after the last intervention,the level of ACTH and CORT of EA group are still significantly lower than the model group,which suggests that EA intervention has continuous regulatory effect on the HPA axis hyperactivity,and it may be one of the persistent effect mechanisms of antidepressive effects of EA.