OA03.02
Purpose: To investigate alterations of IL-6, IL-1β, TGF-β1 expressions in hippocampal CA3 region of chronic restraint stress rats.
Methods: A total of 19 Sprague-Dawley Rats were divided into three groups, with 4 male and 3 female in model group, 4 male and 3 female in treatment group and 2 male and 3 female in control group. For model group, chronic restraint stress model was induced by restraining rats with wire fences, 9am-3pm per day, for 21 days; for EA group, treatment was conducted prior to restraint, acupoints GV20 and GV29 were selected, 2/100Hz, 1 mA, 15 min per time, for 21 days; for control group, no induction and treatment were conducted. Immunohistochemistry is applied to detect the expression of IL-6, IL-1β and TGF-β1 in hippocampal CA3 region.
Results: Based on IOD calculation and analysis, 21 days after chronic restraints stress stimulation, IL-1β level in stress group increases obviously compared to those in control group and EA group (p<0.01), while differences between EA group and control group are not statistically significant (p>0.05). The expression of IL-6 in stress group rises substantially in contrast to that in control group (p<0.01) and EA group (p<0.05). TGF-β1 in stress group improve greatly compared to that of control group with significant differences (p<0.01), but no differences are found compared with EA group (p>0.05).
Conclusion: The results indicate that EA treatment induces the alterations of inflammatory cytokine expressions in hippocampus of chronic restraint stress rats. The probable mechanism is: through inhibiting excessive stress, alleviating inflammatory damage, promoting cellular interaction and activating function, EA can stimulate the self-modulation, restore the micro-environment balance to achieve anti-depression effects.
Contact: Zhuo Guo, gz19871110@163.com
