Effects of Electroacupuncture on Gut Microbiota and Fecal Metabolites in Rats with Poststroke Depression

Abstract

Background Poststroke depression (PSD) is the most frequent neuropsychiatric consequence of stroke. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been found to be an effective therapy for treating PSD. However, the underlying mechanisms of EA’s efficacy remain unclear. This research aimed to investigate the effects of EA on alterations in gut microbiota and fecal metabolome in PSD rats. Methods Analyses of gut microbiome and fecal metabolome were performed to identify gut microbes and their functional metabolites in a sham group, PSD group, and EA group. We conducted enrichment analysis to identify the differential metabolic pathways in three groups. Correlations between altered gut microbes and differential metabolites after EA treatment were studied. Results PSD showed decreased species-richness/diversity indices of microbial composition, characterized by an increase in Muribaculaceae, Peptostreptococcaceae, Oscillospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Clostridiaceae and a decrease in Lactobacillaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Bacteroidaceae. Of these, the abundance of Muribaculaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Peptostreptococcaceae, and Clostridiaceae were reversed by EA. Furthermore, PSD was associated with 34 differential fecal metabolites, mainly belonging to steroid hormone biosynthesis, that could be regulated by EA. Conclusion Regulation of gut microbiome and lipid metabolism could be one of the potential mechanisms for EA treatment for alleviating the depressive behaviors of PSD.

Inulin alters gut microbiota to alleviate post‐stroke depressive‐like behavior associated with the IGF‐1‐mediated MAPK signaling pathway

“…This is consistent with the findings of Cai et al. ( 2023 ), further confirming the reliability of our results. The gut–brain axis plays an important role in bidirectional communication between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system, with critical functions in substance metabolism, neurotransmitters, and neuroinflammation regulation.…”

“…( 2022 ) further supports the notion that pyruvate kinase M2 improves post‐stroke depressive symptoms by activating the VEGF‐mediated MAPK/ERK pathway. Furthermore, a notable study has demonstrated a down‐regulation of the ERK–CREB–BDNF signaling pathway in mice models of chronic stress‐induced depression (Cai et al., 2023 ). These research findings provide further support and strengthen the feasibility of our study.…”