电针“百会”、“三阴交”穴对慢性应激抑郁模型大鼠HPA轴的影响

采用放射免疫分析法观察电针“百会”、“三阴交”穴对慢性应激抑郁模型大鼠血浆皮质醇、促肾上腺皮质激素的影响 ;并用免疫组织化学并计算机图像分析法比较各组动物下丘脑室旁核精氨酸加压素阳性神经元的数量。结果显示抑郁模型组动物血浆皮质醇、促肾上腺皮质激素含量及下丘脑室旁核精氨酸加压素阳性神经元的数量明显高于正常组。而电针治疗组以上指标含量均显著低于模型组而接近正常值。说明对亢进的HPA轴功能的调整作用是电针治疗抑郁症的机制之一。

Effects of Puncturing the Acupoints of Baihui and Sanyinjiao by Electric Needles on the HPA Axis in the Rat Chronic Stress-induced Depression Model

The mechanisms of the treatment of depression by electroacupuncture was investigated on the neuroendocrinal basis. The effects of puncturing the acupoints of baihui and sanyinjiao by electric needles on the levels of plasmatic cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were observed by radioimmunoassay in the rats with chronic stress induced depression (CSD). The quantitative comparison of arginine vasopressin positive neurons (AVN) of paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus was made in each group of rats by immunohistochemical method and computer image pattern analysis. The results showed that the plasmatic cortisol and ACTH levels and the number of AVN of paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus were obviously higher in the CSD model group than those in the normal control group, and obviously lower in the electroacupuncture treating group than those in the CSD model group, which were near to the normal. The results suggest that the regulating effects on the hyperactivity of the function of HPA axis were one of the mechanisms of the treatment of depression by electroacupuncture.