Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture on the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex and the level of serum interleukin 10(IL-10)in rats with depression

so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of depression.Methods Thirty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups:control

model

acupuncture

and medication(Fluoxetine

Flu)(n=8 rats in each).The depression model was established by using chronic restraint stress(constraint

fasting

water deprivation

etc.)combined with solitary raising for 28 days.Acupuncture was applied to"Baihui"(GV 20)and"Yintang"(GV 29)

and bilateral"Sanyinjiao"(SP 6)for 20 min

once daily for 28 days.Fluoxetine(1.8 mg/kg)was given to rats of the medication group by gavage once every day for 28 days.Sucrose consumption test and open field test(crossing and rearing locomotion)were carried out to evaluate the behavioral changes.Western blot was used to detect the expression of GFAP in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex

and the content of serum IL-10 was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results After modeling

the sucrose consumption

the crossing numbers and rearing times

hippocampal GFAP protein expression and serum IL-10 content were significantly decreased and prefrontal GFAP protein expression was up-regulated markedly in the model group relevant to the control group(P<0.01).After the treatment

the decreased levels of sucrose consumption and crossing numbers

hippocampal GFAP protein expression and serum IL-10 content and the increased prefrontal GFAP protein expression were considerably suppressed in both medication and acupuncture groups compared with the model group(P<0.05

P<0.01).No significant differences were found between the acupuncture and medication groups in increasing the rats' locomotion

sucrose consumption

hippocampal GFAP protein expression(P>0.05)and in downregulating prefrontal GFAP protein expression(P>0.05)except up-regulation of IL-10 level.Conclusion Acupuncture intervention plays a positive role in anti-depression in rats

which may be related to its effects in regulating the expression of GFAP in the hippocampal and prefrontal astrocytes

and in increasing the content of serum anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10.