Electroacupuncture Improves Antidepressant Effects in CUMS Rats by Protecting Hippocampal Synapse and Mitochondrion: An Ultrastructural and iTRAQ Proteomic Study

Electroacupuncture Enhance Therapeutic Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transplantation in Rats With Intracerebral Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have showed the beneficial effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on experimental intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) animal. Enhancement of the treatment efficacy of MSCs in ICH is essential, considering the diseases association with high rates of disability and mortality. Some auxiliary methods to enhance the beneficial efficacy of MSCs have been introduced. However, the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs transplantation in hemorrhagic stroke and its potential mechanism is not explored.

METHODS

ICH rat models were established using collagenase and heparin. 48 h after ICH induction, the rats were randomly divided into model control (MC), MSCs transplantation (MSCs), EA stimulation (EA) and MSCs transplantation combined with EA stimulation (MSCs + EA) groups. We used mNSS test and gait analysis to assess neurological function of rats, and PET/CT to evaluate the volume of hemorrhage focus and level of glucose uptake. The concentrations of MDA, SOD, NSE, S100B and MBP in serum or plasma were examined with ELISA. Neural differentiation of MSCs, and the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, Arg-1 and iNOS proteins around hematoma were detected by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry staining respectively. Western blot was carried out to analyze the expression levels of COX4, OGDH, PDH-E1α, Bcl-2 and Bax proteins. TUNEL staining was used to estimate cell apoptosis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the ultrastructure and number of mitochondria.

RESULTS

Our data showed that EA promoted neuron-like differentiation of transplanted MSCs and the expressions of BDNF and NGF proteins in ICH rats. The score of mNSS and the gait analysis showed that the recovery of the neurological function in the MSCs + EA group was better than that in the MSCs and EA groups. EA improved the structure of brain tissue, and alleviated brain injury further after MSCs transplantation in ICH rats. When compared with the MSCs and EA groups, the level of glucose uptake and numbers of mitochondria and Arg-1 positive cells in MSCs + EA group increased significantly, but the numbers of apoptotic cells and iNOS positive cells and volume of hemorrhage focus reduced. The expressional levels of COX4, OGDH, PDH-E1α and Bcl-2 proteins increased, while the expressional level of Bax protein decreased compared with those in the MSCs and EA groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results reveal that EA improve therapeutic efficacy of MSCs transplantation in ICH rats.

The mechanism of electroacupuncture for depression on basic research: a systematic review

Background

Electroacupuncture (EA) is generally accepted as a safe and harmless treatment option for alleviating depression. However, there are several challenges related to the use of EA. Although EA has been shown to be effective in treating depression, the molecular mechanism is unclear.

Objective

To reveal the therapeutic effect of EA and its possible mechanism in the treatment of depression.

Search strategy

We performed a systematic search according to PRISMA guidelines. We electronically searched PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data Information Site and the VIP information database for animal studies in English published from the inception of these databases to December 31, 2019.

Inclusion criteria

Electronic searches of PubMed, WOS, the CNKI, Wanfang and the VIP database were conducted using the following search terms: (depression OR depressive disorder OR antidepressive), (rat OR mouse) AND (acupuncture OR EA).

Data extraction and analysis

The data were extracted primarily by one author, and a follow-up review was conducted by the other authors.

Results

Twenty-eight articles met the inclusion criteria. The most commonly used method for inducing depression in animal models was 21 days of chronic unpredictable mild stress. For the depression model, the most commonly selected EA frequency was 2 Hz. Among the 28 selected studies, 11 studies observed depression-related behaviors and used them as indicators of EA efficacy. The other 17 studies focused on mechanisms and assessed the indexes that exhibited abnormalities that were known to result from depression and then returned to a normal range after EA treatment. Treatment of depression by EA involves multiple therapeutic mechanisms, including inhibition of HPA axis hyperactivity and inflammation, regulation of neuropeptides and neurotransmitters, modulation of the expression of particular genes, restoration of hippocampal synaptic plasticity, increased expression of BDNF, and regulation of several signaling pathways.

Conclusions

This review reveals that the mechanisms underlying the effect of acupuncture involve multiple pathways and targets, suggesting that acupuncture is a wholistic treatment for people rather than for diseases. Our findings also explain why acupuncture can treat various disorders in addition to depression.

Optimization of food deprivation and sucrose preference test in SD rat model undergoing chronic unpredictable mild stress

BACKGROUND

The chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model has long been considered the best model for exploring the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying depression. However, there are no widely recognised standards for strategies for modeling and for behavioral testing. The present study aimed to optimize the protocols for food deprivation and the sucrose preference test (SPT) for the CUMS model.

METHODS

We first evaluated the effects of different long periods of food deprivation on the body weight of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats by testing food deprivation for 24 hours (8:00-8:00+), food deprivation for 12 hours during the daytime (8:00-20:00) and food deprivation for 12 hours at night (20:00-8:00+). Next, we established a SD rat CUMS model with 15 different stimulations, and used body weight measurement, SPT, forced swim test (FST), open field test (OFT) and Morris water maze (MWM) test to verify the success of the modeling. In the SPT, consumption of sucrose and pure water within 1 and 12 hours was measured.

RESULTS

Twelve hours of food deprivation during the daytime (8:00-20:00) had no effect on body weight, while 12 hours of food deprivation at night (20:00-8:00+) and 24 hours of food deprivation (8:00-8:00+) significantly reduced the mean body weight of the SD rats. When SPT was used to verify the successful establishment of the CUMS rat model, sucrose consumption measured within 12 hours was less variable than that measured within 1 hour.

CONCLUSIONS

Twelve hours of food deprivation in the daytime (8:00-20:00) may be considered a mild stimulus for the establishment of a CUMS rat model. Measuring sucrose consumption over 12 hours is recommended for SPT.