Work

Antidepressant‐Like Effects of Electroacupuncture by Regulating NLRP3‐mediated Hippocampal Inflammation and Pyroptosis in Rats With Post‐Stroke Depression

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether the antidepressant-like effects of electroacupuncture (EA) are associated with the regulation of inflammation and pyroptosis mediated by the NLRP3 inflammasome, as well as the protection of neuron cells in the hippocampus (HP) in a rat model of post-stroke depression (PSD). METHODS: Depressive-like behaviors (DLBs) in PSD rats were evaluated through a series of behavioral tests. The expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1 (Casp-1), and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), as well as the cleavage product gasdermin D (GSDMD), were assessed using real-time PCR (RT-PCR), immunofluorescence, and Western blot (WB). IL-1β and IL-18 levels were measured by RT-PCR and WB. To upregulate NLRP3 expression, adeno-associated virus (AAV) was injected into the hippocampus. Nissl staining was employed to evaluate neuronal morphology and count in the hippocampus. RESULTS: EA significantly alleviated DLBs in PSD rats and suppressed the overexpression of NLRP3, Casp-1, ASC, GSDMD, IL-1β, and IL-18 in the ischemic hippocampus. NLRP3 overexpression attenuated the therapeutic effects of EA on both behavioral outcomes and neuroinflammatory markers. CONCLUSIONS: EA mitigated hippocampal inflammation and pyroptosis in PSD by downregulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation, indicating that NLRP3 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for PSD.

Source: Brain and Behavior

DOI: 10.1002/brb3.70670

Authors: Wa Cai, Xi‐Fang Wei, Larissa Tao, Wei‐Dong Shen

Institutions: Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shuguang Hospital, Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University

Language: English

Topic: Acupuncture Treatment Research Studies

Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,630