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

Figure 6

CUS-induced downregulation of BDNF expression was reversed by 3 weeks of combined treatment with EA and citalopram. (a) Hippocampal BDNF protein levels were significantly decreased after 4 weeks of CUS procedure. (b) ELISA results showed that 2 Hz EA plus 5 mg/kg citalopram as well as 10 mg/kg citalopram induced remarkably increased BDNF protein levels in the hippocampus. (c) Western blot analysis of hippocampal mBDNF, proBDNF, and TrkB protein levels. β-actin was used as an internal control. (d)–(f) Quantitative analysis of mBDNF, proBDNF, and TrkB protein levels in (b). 𝑛=4-5 per group. Data represent mean ± SEM, ^∗𝑃<0.05, ^∗∗𝑃<0.01, and ^∗∗∗𝑃<0.001  versus the vehicle-treated group.

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