Enhanced Antidepressant-Like Effects of Electroacupuncture Combined with Citalopram in a Rat Model of Depression

Abstract

Currently, antidepressants are the dominative treatment for depression, but they have limitations in efficacy and may even produce troublesome side effects. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been reported to have therapeutic benefits in the treatment of depressive disorders. The present study was conducted to determine whether EA could enhance the antidepressant efficacy of a low dose of citalopram (an SSRI antidepressant) in the chronic unpredictable stress-induced depression model rats. Here, we show that a combined treatment with 2 Hz EA and 5 mg/kg citalopram for three weeks induces a significant improvement in depressive-like symptoms as detected by sucrose preference test, open field test, and forced swimming test, whereas these effects were not observed with either of the treatments alone. Further investigations revealed that 2 Hz EA plus 5 mg/kg citalopram produced a remarkably increased expression of BDNF and its receptor TrkB in the hippocampus compared with those measured in the vehicle group. Our findings suggest that EA combined with a low dose of citalopram could produce greater therapeutic effects, thereby, predictive of a reduction in drug side effects.

BDNF and COX-2 participate in anti-depressive mechanisms of catalpol in rats undergoing chronic unpredictable mild stress

“…As previously mentioned, increasing evidence indicates that BDNF also plays essential roles in the pathogenesis of depression, regardless of experimental research or clinical trials [4][5][6][7][8][9][11][12][13]15,16]. The present study found that BDNF expression was reduced in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of CUMS-exposed rats, which was consistent with previous reports [57].…”

“…Several lines of evidence suggest that BDNF participates in depression, that is, BDNF expression is decreased in depressed patients [4][5][6][7]. Additionally, antidepressants upregulate BDNF expression [8,9]. The data above have led to the proposal of "neurotrophin hypothesis of depression" [10].…”

Establishment of an animal model of depression contagion

“…This model, which mimics socio-environmental stressors in everyday life, is one of the most well documented and extensively used animal models of depression, which results in depressive-like behavioral effects similar to symptoms observed clinically. Rats subjected to the CUS paradigm for several weeks can exhibit almost all demonstrable depressive symptoms [26]. CUS is a dependable depression model with high face, predictive and construct validity (Forbes et al, 1996; Moreau, 1997).…”

Acupuncture Activates ERK-CREB Pathway in Rats Exposed to Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress

“…Attempts have been made to seek alternative medicine for treatment options [3]. In Chinese medicine, acupuncture has been widely used to treat depression [4, 5]. However, the mechanism underlying the acupuncture treatment in depression remains unclear.…”