Abstract
Objective: To explore the effect of electroacupuncture on repairing mitochondrial damage in the hippocampus and improving anxiety symptoms in PTSD rats based on the GPX4/ACSL4 signaling axis. Methods: 48 SPF-grade male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, PTSD group, drug group, and EA group, with 12 rats in each group. A modified single prolonged stress combined with the foot-electrical stimulation method was used to establish the PTSD rat model. The control group and the PTSD group were not treated, while the EA group received acupuncture at "Baihui", "Shenting", and bilateral "Liver Shu" and "Kidney Shu", the drug group was given paroxetine suspension (10 mg/kg) by gavage, all for 21 days. After treatment, behavioral changes were evaluated through the open field test and elevated plus maze test. HE staining and Nissl staining were used to observe the pathological changes and nerve cell changes in the hippocampus, and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunoflu-orescence were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of GPX4, ACSL4, and caspase-3. Results: Compared with the control group, the total distance of open field activity in the PTSD group was significantly reduced (P<0.01); compared with the PTSD group, the total distance of open field activity in the EA group was significantly increased (P<0.05), and there was no statistically significant difference in the total distance of open field activity between the EA group and the drug group (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the activity distance and time in the open arm area of the elevated plus maze in the PTSD group were significantly reduced (P<0.01); compared with the PTSD group, the activity distance and time in the open arm area of the elevated plus maze in the EA group were significantly increased (P<0.05), and there was no statistically significant difference in the activity distance and time in the open arm area of the elevated plus maze between the drug group and the PTSD group (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression of GPX4 in the hippocampus of the PTSD group was significantly decreased, and the expressions of ACSL4 and caspase-3 were significantly increased (P<0.01); compared with the PTSD group, the expression of GPX4 in the hippocampus of the drug group and the EA group was significantly increased, and the expressions of ACSL4 and caspase-3 were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the two groups compared with the drug group (P>0.05). Conclusion: Electroacupuncture treatment can significantly improve the anxiety behavior of PTSD rats, repair mitochondrial damage in the hippocampus, up-regulate the expression of GPX4, and down-regulate the expression of ACSL4 and caspase-3, exerting therapeutic effects on PTSD rats.
References
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