Electroacupuncture alleviates depression and gastrointestinal dysfunction by rebalancing GABAergic activity in the central amygdala

Figure 3 GABAergic neurons in the central amygdala contribute to depressive-like behavior and gastric dysfunction. A: Representative immunofluorescence images of GABA/c-Fos co-localized expression in the central amygdala (CeA) of control, chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), and CUMS + electroacupuncture mice. Scale bar, 100 μm; B: Analysis of GABA/c-Fos co-localization data in mouse immunofluorescence schematic diagram; C: Representative Ca²⁺ trace (ΔF/F); D: Quantification of Ca²⁺ peak count; E: Representative immunofluorescence images showing c-Fos/GAD67 co-localization in the CeA of control, CUMS, and CUMS + electroacupuncture mice. Scale bar, 50 μm; F: Quantification of c-Fos/GAD67 co-localization in the CeA. Data are mean ± SE; statistics by one-way analysis of variance; n = 10 mice in each group. ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.001. CUMS: Chronic unpredictable mild stress; EA: Electroacupuncture.