AUTHOR=Huang Yingjie , Chen Weiping , Li Xingfu , Tan Tian , Wang Tunyi , Qiu Shishi , Li Guangyao , Yang Cong , Li Min , Duan Lining 

TITLE=Efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture in animal models of depressive-like behaviors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience

VOLUME=18

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1330594

DOI=10.3389/fnins.2024.1330594

ISSN=1662-453X

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Background</title><p>Many studies have investigated the efficacy of acupuncture in treating depression, but the mechanism of acupuncture for depression is still controversial and there is a lack of meta-analysis of mechanisms. Consequently, we investigated acupuncture’s efficacy and mechanism of depression.</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Methods</title><p>We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science. The SYRCLE Risk of Bias Tool was used to assess bias risk. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 15.0 for indicators of depression mechanisms, body weight and behavioral tests.</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Results</title><p>A total of 22 studies with 497 animals with depressive-like behaviors were included. Meta-analysis showed that acupuncture significantly increased BDNF [SMD = 2.40, 95% CI (1.33, 3.46); <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 86.6%], 5-HT [SMD = 2.28, 95% CI (1.08, 3.47); <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 87.7%] compared to the control group (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05), and significantly reduced IL-1β [SMD = −2.33, 95% CI (−3.43, −1.23); I2 = 69.6%], CORT [SMD = −2.81, 95% CI (−4.74, −0.87); <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 86.8%] (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). Acupuncture improved body weight [SMD = 1.35, 95% CI (0.58, 2.11); <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 84.5%], forced swimming test [SMD = −1.89, 95% CI (−2.55, −1.24); <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 76.3%], open field test (crossing number [SMD = 3.08, 95% CI (1.98, 4.17); <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 86.7%], rearing number [SMD = 2.53, 95% CI (1.49, 3.57); <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 87.0%]) (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05) compared to the control group.</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Conclusion</title><p>Acupuncture may treat animals of depressive-like behaviors by regulating neurotrophic factors, neurotransmitters, inflammatory cytokines, neuroendocrine system.</p></sec><sec id="sec143"><title>Systematic review registration</title><p><ext-link xlink:href="https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023403318" ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023403318</ext-link>, identifier (CRD42023403318).</p></sec>