Post-traumatic stress disorder (
PTSD) is a
mental disorder that is linked with the onset of multiple anxiety-like behaviors. This study was designed to assess how these behaviors and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) c-Fos expression were impacted by 10.6-μm
laser stimulation at
acupoint ST36 a rat model of
PTSD. A rat model of
PTSD was prepared via prolonged exposure of animals to a stressor, followed by a 7-day period during which animals were allowed to rest undisturbed in their cages. Rats were randomized into four experimental groups (n = 12/group): the control,
PTSD, LS, and
sham LS groups. Control group animals were not subjected to SPS procedures prior to behavioral testing. LS and
sham LS animals were administered LS treatment at bilateral ST36
acupoints or non-
acupoints, respectively, for a 7-day period. Animals were then assessed for performance in elevated plus maze (EPM) tests and open-field tests (OFT), and their plasma
corticosterone levels were measured. In addition, c-Fos-positive nuclei in the ACC were detected via immunohistochemical staining. Relative to
sham LS treatment and
PTSD model control rats, LS was associated with increased time spent in both open EPM test arms and in the central area in the OFT (P < 0.05). The
PTSD model group exhibited a significant reduction in ACC c-Fox expression, while LS treatment significantly increased this expression (P < 0.001). In addition, a correlation was detected between anxiety-like behaviors and altered ACC neuronal activation. The results of this study indicate that LS at
acupoint ST36 can have a previously unreported effect on anxiety-like behaviors in the context of
PTSD, with ACC neuronal activation potentially being implicated as a driver of this effect.