Objective:To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on depression in chronic pain mice; To explore its mechanism.Methods:36 C57BL/6J mice were divided into a blank control group, a sham-operation group, a model group, and an electroacupuncture group using a random number table method, with 9 mice in each group. The chronic compression injury model of sciatic nerve was established in the model group and electroacupuncture group. Mechanical pain threshold (MWT) and latent heat wave leg reflex (TWL) were measured on preoperative day 1 and postoperative days 4, 7, 14, 21, and 35. Electroacupuncture treatment was performed on the 14th day after modeling, and on the 35th day after modeling, open field experiments, elevated cross maze experiments, forced swimming experiments, and tail suspension experiments were conducted to evaluate depressive like behavior in mice. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of glutamate receptor 1 (GluA1), glutamate receptor 2 (GluA2), human glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3), and calmodulin dependent protein kinase Ⅱ (CaMKⅡ) in the hippocampus of each group of mice; GluA1 positive cells in the hippocampus of mice was observed using immunofluorescence technology.Results:Compared with the blank group, the MWT and TWL value of the model group decreased ( P<0.05) on postoperative days 4, 7, 14, and 21. Compared with the model group, the electroacupuncture group had a longer stay time in the central area of the open field ( P<0.01), an increased percentage of stay time and activity frequency in the elevated arm opening ( P<0.01), a shorter static time for forced swimming ( P<0.01), and a shorter immobility time for the suspended tail ( P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expressions of GluA1, GLUT3, GluA2, and CaMKⅡ proteins in the hippocampus of mice in the electroacupuncture group increased ( P<0.05), and the number of GluA1 positive cells increased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Electroacupuncture can affect synaptic plasticity by regulating the AMPA receptor in the hippocampal region, thereby improving depressive mood caused by chronic pain.

Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture auricular acupuncture points on depression-like behaviors and ventral dorsal tegmental area(VTA)TH,DRD1 and DRD2 induced in well acute stress disorder(ASD)mice.Methods Experiment 1:18 male C57 mice were divided into 9 control and 9 model mice.Behavioural paradigms such as forced swimming test(FST)and tail suspension test(TST)were used to detect depression-like behaviors in the mice starting on day 5 and day 36;double-labelled staining for immediate early gene protein(C-Fos)and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)was detected in the VTA of the mice by immunofluorescence.Experiment 2:45 male C57 mice were divided into 15 mice each in the control groups,model groups and electroacupuncture groups.30 days after completion of the electroacupuncture intervention,the mice were tested for depressive behaviors using behavioural paradigms such as FST and TST;dopamine receptor D1(DRD1)and dopamine receptor D2(DRD2)was detected in the VTA of mice in each group using fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot techniques;the number of TH neurons in the brain area of the VTA of mice was observed by immunofluorescence.Results Experiment 1:Compared with the control group,the immobile duration of the model group increased in the TST(P<0.001)and FST(P<0.001)on day 5 and day 6,and the immobile duration of the model group increased in the TST(P<0.01)and FST(P<0.01)on day 36 and day 37;compared with the control group,the number of C-Fos and TH fluorescence double-labelled neurons in the model group increased(P<0.05).Experiment 2:At day after completion of the electroacupuncture intervention,the immobile duration of TST(P<0.01)and FST(P<0.01)were decreased in the electroacupuncture group compared with the model group;compared with the control group,DRD1 mRNA(P<0.001)and protein expression(P<0.01)were increased in the VTA of the electroacupuncture group,and DRD2 mRNA(P<0.001)and protein expression(P<0.05)were decreased,TH protein expression(P<0.05)increased,and the number of TH neurons increased(P<0.01).Conclusion Early intervention with auricular electroacupuncture points has an ameliorative effect on depression-like behaviors induced by acute stress disorder in mice,which may be achieved by modulating the activity level of dopaminergic neurons and the expression level of DRD1 and DRD2 in the VTA.

Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture auricular acupuncture points on depression-like behaviors and ventral dorsal tegmental area(VTA)TH,DRD1 and DRD2 induced in well acute stress disorder(ASD)mice.Methods Experiment 1:18 male C57 mice were divided into 9 control and 9 model mice.Behavioural paradigms such as forced swimming test(FST)and tail suspension test(TST)were used to detect depression-like behaviors in the mice starting on day 5 and day 36;double-labelled staining for immediate early gene protein(C-Fos)and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)was detected in the VTA of the mice by immunofluorescence.Experiment 2:45 male C57 mice were divided into 15 mice each in the control groups,model groups and electroacupuncture groups.30 days after completion of the electroacupuncture intervention,the mice were tested for depressive behaviors using behavioural paradigms such as FST and TST;dopamine receptor D1(DRD1)and dopamine receptor D2(DRD2)was detected in the VTA of mice in each group using fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot techniques;the number of TH neurons in the brain area of the VTA of mice was observed by immunofluorescence.Results Experiment 1:Compared with the control group,the immobile duration of the model group increased in the TST(P<0.001)and FST(P<0.001)on day 5 and day 6,and the immobile duration of the model group increased in the TST(P<0.01)and FST(P<0.01)on day 36 and day 37;compared with the control group,the number of C-Fos and TH fluorescence double-labelled neurons in the model group increased(P<0.05).Experiment 2:At day after completion of the electroacupuncture intervention,the immobile duration of TST(P<0.01)and FST(P<0.01)were decreased in the electroacupuncture group compared with the model group;compared with the control group,DRD1 mRNA(P<0.001)and protein expression(P<0.01)were increased in the VTA of the electroacupuncture group,and DRD2 mRNA(P<0.001)and protein expression(P<0.05)were decreased,TH protein expression(P<0.05)increased,and the number of TH neurons increased(P<0.01).Conclusion Early intervention with auricular electroacupuncture points has an ameliorative effect on depression-like behaviors induced by acute stress disorder in mice,which may be achieved by modulating the activity level of dopaminergic neurons and the expression level of DRD1 and DRD2 in the VTA.