Stellate ganglion block attenuates chronic stress induced depression in rats

Abstract

BackgroundStress is a significant factor in the etiology of depression. Stellate ganglion block (SGB) has been shown to maintain the stability of the autonomic system and to affect the neuroendocrine system, including the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. The objective of this study was to determine the antidepressant-like effects of SGB on the autonomic system and the HPA axis, apoptosis-related proteins, related spatial learning and memory impairment, and sensorimotor dysfunction.MethodsForty-eight Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to four experimental groups: control + saline (sham group), control + SGB (SGB group), unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) + saline (UCMS group), and UCMS + SGB (UCSG group). Stress-induced effects and the function of SGB were assessed using measures of body weight, coat state, sucrose consumption, and behavior in open-field and Y-maze tests. Neuronal damage was assessed histologically using the hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining method, while western blotting was used to investigate changes in the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Plasma corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticosterone (CORT), noradrenaline and adrenaline were measured to evaluate changes in the autonomic system and HPA axis.ResultsSGB treatment significantly improved sensorimotor dysfunction and spatial learning and memory impairment following UCMS. Moreover, UCMS significantly decreased body weight, sucrose preference and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and increased scores on measures of coat state, adrenal gland weight, levels of CORT, CRF, ACTH, noradrenaline and adrenaline, as well as increased neuronal loss, cell shrinkage, nuclear condensation, and the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. These symptoms were attenuated by treatment with SGB.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that SGB can attenuate depression-like behaviors induced by chronic stress. These protective effects appear to be due to an anti-apoptotic mechanism of two stress pathways–the autonomic system and the HPA axis.

Stellate ganglion block relieves acute lung injury induced by severe acute pancreatitis via the miR-155-5p/SOCS5/JAK2/STAT3 axis

“…SGB blocks the sympathetic nerve and redresses the vegetative nerve imbalance through the injection of anesthetic drugs into stellate ganglion tissues, thus meeting its goal of stabilizing the internal environment of the body [ 6 ]. SGB, a novel therapy with great potential, has been demonstrated to greatly enhance the spatial learning and memory capabilities of rats stimulated by unpredictable chronic stress and alleviate their depression-like behaviors [ 7 ]. SGB vigorously hampers inflammatory factor release and mitigates the clinical symptoms of patients suffering from ulcerative colitis (UC) [ 8 ].…”

Stellate ganglion block rectifies excessive daytime sleepiness: a case report

“… 18 This effect normalizes the homeostasis of the internal environment, stabilizes autonomic, endocrine, and immune functions, and facilitates the secretion of GHRH and MT. 19 As a result, SGB represents a potential treatment for sleep disorders. 20 In the present case, SGB resulted in a clear and desirable effect on the patient’s EDS and a decrease in the ESS score from 19 to 0.…”

Autophagy Is Involved in Stellate Ganglion Block Reversing Posthemorrhagic Shock Mesenteric Lymph-Mediated Vascular Hyporeactivity

“…After recording the body weight of rats, anesthesia was induced by the inhalation of 3% VOL isoflurane using a small animal anesthetic machine (MATRX VMR, Midmark Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, USA). Under inhalation anesthesia, the right SGB was performed according to the previous reports (Abdi and Yang, 2005 ; Wang et al, 2017 ; Zhang et al, 2019 ; Yin et al, 2020 ). In brief, 0.2 ml of 0.25% ropivacaine hydrochloride hydrate was injected by a posterior percutaneous approach.…”