ArticleBrain and behavior2023
Electroacupuncture promotes synaptic plasticity in rats with chronic inflammatory pain-related depression by upregulating BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway.
Article in Brain and behavior, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 50 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
50 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 60 citations in OpenAlex.
- Multilevel Mechanisms and Clinical Efficacy of Psilocybin in Depression Treatment: A Systematic Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Pooled it
- Efficacy and influencing factors of acupuncture in major depressive disorder: a systematic review and exploratory network meta-analysis.CNS spectrums · 2026Pooled it
- Sustained efficacy of acupuncture in post-stroke dysphagia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in neurology · 2026Pooled it
- Unveiling the relationship of the comorbidity between depression and type 2 diabetes mellitus: a macro analysis and micro interpretation.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Pooled it
- Research trends and hotspots of electroacupuncture for depression: a bibliometric and visual analysis (2005-2025).Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Pooled it
- The efficacy of acupuncture for depression-associated chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Pooled it
- Efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture-based comprehensive treatment for post-stroke depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2025Pooled it
- Global research hotspots and trends of acupuncture regulating neuroplasticity: a bibliometric analysis from 2005 to 2024.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Pooled it
- Physical exercise as a therapeutic strategy in animal models of Alzheimer's disease: Molecular, behavioral, and histopathological evidence.Biochemistry and biophysics reports · 2026Review
- Both Genetic Manipulation and Acupuncture Alleviate Depressive-Like Behavior Mediated by Astrocytic P2X7 Receptors.MedComm · 2026Article
- Comorbidity Mechanism and Management of Chronic Low Back Pain and Major Depressive Disorder: From Neural Circuit Remodeling to Precision Medicine.Brain and behavior · 2026Review
- Pain-Affective Disorder Comorbidity in the Temporomandibular Disorders: From Mechanistic Insights to Clinical Management.Neuroscience bulletin · 2026Review
- Electroacupuncture Ameliorates Depressive-Like Behaviors by Enhancing Autophagy to Attenuate Hippocampal Neuroinflammation via the VEGF/AKT1/ERK Pathway in CUMS Rats.Neurochemical research · 2026Article
- From Molecular Networks to Medicines: Targeting Complexity in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) Therapy.Molecular neurobiology · 2026Review
- Article
- Neuroplasticity-Driven Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex in Neuropathic Pain.Brain and behavior · 2026Review
- Electroacupuncture promotes BDNF-dependent neurogenesis via microglial reprogramming in a chronic stress model.Chinese medicine · 2026Article
- Causal Brain Network Alterations Across Disease Stages in Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia.Journal of pain research · 2026Article
- Stage-Specific Mechanisms of Manual Acupuncture and Electroacupuncture in Inflammatory Pain: A Time-Dependent Review.Journal of pain research · 2026Review
- Mechanism of periocular acupuncture in alleviating dry eye neuropathic pain via regulation of the "periocular acupoint-trigeminal ganglion-ventral posteromedial thalamic nucleus" pathway.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundChronic inflammatory pain (CIP) frequently coincides with depression among patients. The onset and development of pain and depression are associated with altered neural synaptic plasticity. Electroacupuncture (EA) can effectively relieve CIP and depression. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully illustrated.
objectiveTo explore whether EA can relieve CIP and depression by regulating hippocampal synaptic plasticity, and the present study offers foundational evidence for the efficacy of EA in treating CIP-related depression (CIPD).
methodsRats were divided into four groups: 0.9% normal saline group, complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) group, CFA + duloxetine group, and CFA + EA group. Pain hypersensitivity was detected by mechanical withdrawal threshold and thermal paw withdrawal latency, and the depression level was gauged using the open field test, the sucrose preference test, and the forced swimming test. The morphology of the hippocampal neurons was observed using Nissl staining. The protein expression levels of synuclein (Syn), postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95), brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNFs), tyrosine-protein kinase B (TrKB), p-TrkB, cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), and p-CREB were measured by western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. BDNF and TrkB mRNA expression were detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (qRT-PCR). The content of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the glutamic acid (Glu) content was determined using the ultraviolet colorimetry method. The hippocampal neuron ultrastructure was observed using transmission electron microscopy.
resultsEA could alleviate CIP and related depressive behaviors as well as protect the hippocampal neuronal structure from damage and regulate 5-HT/GABA/Glu levels in the hippocampus. Additionally, EA could significantly increase the expression of synapse-associated proteins such as PSD-95 and Syn by activating the BDNF/TrKB/CREB signaling pathway.
conclusionEA improves pain and depressive behaviors in CIPD rats, and the mechanism may be related to synaptic plasticity mediated by the BDNF/TrKB/CREB signaling pathway.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.