Effect of electroacupuncture of "Siguan" on contents of hippocampal monoamine neurotransmitter in post-stroke depression rats

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture of "Siguan" on contents of hippocampal monoamine neurotransmitter NE, DA and 5-HT in post-stroke depression rats, and throught it to probe the possible mechanism of anti-depressive． Methods 60 rats were divided into five groups randomly, as the normal group, MCAO group, PSD group, Siguan group, and fluoxetine group. Except the normal group, the rats of other groups were used to establish left side of the MCAO models by modified Longa filament method. PSD model was prepared by living alone in combination with mild stimulation by chronic unpredictable after stroke model success 7 days. The Siguan group was received electroacupuncture at "Siguan" point, and the fluoxetine group was gastrically perfused with fluoxetine, and all rats were received sugar consumption experiment in different period of treatment. After continuous treatment for 21 days, contents of NE, DA and 5-HT in hippocampal tissue were measured with RP-HPLC-fluorescent method. Results At the seventh day, compared with PSD group, the ratio of sugar water consumption（51.09% ± 3.68% vs. 38.97% ± 4.07%）has a significant increase in the Siguan group(P 0.05). Compared with the PSD group，the contents of NE(244.93 ± 44.57 ng/g vs. 129.27 ± 11.68 ng/g), DA(86.80 ± 14.64 ng/g vs.44.22 ± 7.60 ng/g), 5-HT（526.31 ± 54.41 ng/g vs.221.56 ± 39.57 ng/g）in the hippocampus tissues were significantly higher than many in the Siguan group and fluoxetine group(P 0.05). Conclusion The symptoms of PSD rats pleasure disappeared can be improved by electroacupuncture at "Siguan". Its mechanism may be related with the increased contents of monoamine neurotransmitters in the hippocampus of rats. Key words: Electroacupuncture; Siguan; Post-stroke depression; Hippocampal monoamine neurotransmitter