Possible Involvement of Perineuronal Nets in Anti-Depressant Effects of Electroacupuncture in Chronic-Stress-Induced Depression in Rats

Overview

Journal Neurochem Res

Specialties Chemistry
Neurology

Date 2023 Jun 22

PMID 37347359

Authors

Yuxin Zhang

Zhenyu Guo

Luping Yang

Cuicui Cheng

Cong Gai

Yushan Gao

Yi Zhang

Hongmei Sun

Die Hu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Acupuncture can alleviate depression-like behaviors. However, the neural mechanisms behind the anti-depressive effect remain unknown. Perineuronal net (PNN) abnormalities have been reported in multiple psychiatric disorders. This study investigated the modulation and neural mechanism of PNNs in the anti-depressant process of electroacupuncture (EA) at Baihui (GV20) and Yintang (GV29) points. A rat depression model was induced by chronic unpredicted mild stress (CUMS). The results revealed that CUMS, applied for four weeks, specifically reduces PNNs around parvalbumin (PV). In addition, EA and fluoxetine treatments reverse the decrease in PNNs cell density and the ratio of PV and PNN double-positive cells to PV neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) after CUMS. Furthermore, EA treatment can reverse the decrease in the protein expression of PNN components (aggrecan and brevican) in the mPFC caused by stress. After EA treatment, the decreased expression of GAD67, GLuA1, and PSD95 in the mPFC induced by CUMS for four weeks was also reversed. PNN degradation in mPFC brain areas potentially interferes with the anti-depressant benefits of EA in rats with depression induced by CUMS. EA treatment did not increase PNNs cell density and the ratio of PV and PNN double-positive cells to PV neurons after PNNs degradation in the mPFC brain region of rats. This finding indicated that the mechanism of acupuncture's anti-depressant effect may be based on reversing the CUMS-induced decline in PNN expression, the functional impairment of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons, and the regulation of excitatory synaptic proteins expression.

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