Objective To observe the influence of acupuncture of "Baihui"(GV 20) to "Yintang"(EX-HN 3) and unila-teral "Neiguan"(PC 6) on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) gene and protein in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in chronic stress-induced depression rats.Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups(6 rats/group): control

control+acupuncture

model

and model + acupuncture.Depression model was established by giving the rats with repeated abstinence of food and water

illumination at night

forced cold water-swimming

vibration

tail-clamping

constraint and raising alone for 28 days.Acupuncture was applied to "Baihui"(GV 20) to "Yintang"(EX-HN 3) and unilateral "Neiguan"(PC 6) once every other day for 28 days.The expression levels of BDNF mRNA and protein of the frontal cortex and hippocampus tissues were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot methods

separately.Results Compared with the control group

the expression levels of BDNF mRNA and protein in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were significantly decreased in the model group(P<0.01

P<0.05).Whereas compared with the model group

BDNF mRNA and protein expression levels in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were significantly upregulated in the model+acupuncture group(P<0.05

P<0.01).No significant differences were found between the control and control+acupuncture groups in the expression levels of cortical and hippocampal BDNF mRNA and protein(P>0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture can effectively reverse chronic stress-induced down-regulation of BDNF mRNA and protein expression in the frontal cortex and hippocampus in depression rats

which may contribute to its effect in anti-depression by protecting the regeneration of neurons.