Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on changes of behavior in depression rats.Methods: Thirty male SD rats were evenly randomized into control

model and EA groups.Depression model was established by using chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS) stimulation(forced ice-water swimming

electric shock

tail-clamping

etc) combined with lonely raising for 21 days.EA(2 Hz

(0.6 mA

) 20 min) was applied to "Baihui"(GV 20) and "Yintang"(EX-HN 3)

once daily

continuously for 21 days.The rat's body weight

open-field test

absolute and relative volume of sucrose-intake were recorded one day before experiments

and on the 7

(th)

14(th)

14

(th)

and 21(th) and 21

(st)

day during experiments respectively.Results: Compared with control group

the rats' body weight

crossing and rearing motion times and sucrose-intake volume decreased significantly in model group(P

<

0.05

0.01

0.001).From the 7(st) day during experiments respectively.Results: Compared with control group

the rats' body weight

crossing and rearing motion times and sucrose-intake volume decreased significantly in model group(P

<

0.05

0.01

0.001).From the 7

(th)

to 21(th) to 21

(st)

day

the body weight of both model and EA groups was significantly lower than that of control group(P

<

0.001)

but no significant difference was found between model and EA groups.Compared with control group

the crossing and rearing movement times on the 7(st) day

the body weight of both model and EA groups was significantly lower than that of control group(P

<

0.001)

but no significant difference was found between model and EA groups.Compared with control group

the crossing and rearing movement times on the 7

(th)

and 21(th) and 21

(st)

day

the absolute volume of sucrose-intake on the 14(st) day

the absolute volume of sucrose-intake on the 14

(th)

and 21(th) and 21

(st)

day

and the relative volume of sucrose-intake on the 21(st) day

and the relative volume of sucrose-intake on the 21

(st)

day of model group decreased significantly(P

<

0.05

0.01

(0.001).) In comparison with model group

the rats' crossing and rearing movement times from 7(st) day of model group decreased significantly(P

<

0.05

0.01

(0.001).) In comparison with model group

the rats' crossing and rearing movement times from 7

(th)

to 21(th) to 21

(st)

day

absolute and relative volume of sucrose-intake on the 21(st) day

absolute and relative volume of sucrose-intake on the 21

(st)

day increased considerably in EA group(P

<

0.05

0.01

0.001).The results suggested that EA could prevent or suppress the onset of depression and raise the volume of sucrose-intake in depression rats.Conclusion: CUMS combined with lonely breeding may cause a hypofunction of the rat's central reward system

whereas EA treatment can prevent the rat's abnormal behavior.