Acupuncture improves depression-like behaviors in rats through gut microbiota and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway modulation

Acupuncture alleviates CUMS-induced depressive-like behaviors. The benefits are associated with gut microbiota remodeling, inhibition of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling, and stabilization of HPA-axis function, supporting an immune-microbiota-neuroendocrine mechanism.