Neuroprotective Effect of Acupuncture against Single Prolonged Stress-Induced Memory Impairments and Inflammation in Rat Brain via Modulation of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental disorder that can appear after exposure to extreme stress. Acupuncture is an alternative therapy that is widely used to treat various neurodegenerative diseases, as well as cognitive and memory impairments. The aim of this study was to examine whether acupuncture stimulation at a specific acupoint (Shenmen or heart meridian, HT7) could improve memory defects caused by single prolonged stress (SPS) in rats. After exposure to SPS, acupuncture on the HT7 acupoint in male rats was performed, once daily for 21 days. We confirmed that this treatment improved fear memory, cognitive function, and spatial memory by modulating the neuroinflammation and expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA in the brain. It also significantly inhibited the activation of proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β and the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 in the brain; it increased the expression of BDNF mRNA in the hippocampus. Our findings provide valuable information concerning the clinical usefulness of acupuncture in the treatment of PTSD.