Objective To research the possible mechanism of antidepressant effect of acupuncture on Baihui（GV20） and Neiguan（PC6）. Methods Totally 32 SD rats were randomized into normal group

model group

acupuncture group and fluoxetine group

with 8 in each. The depression models were established with 28 day-chronic unpredictable stress in all groups except the normal group. During modeling

the acupuncture group was given acupuncture on Baihui（GV20） and Neiguan for 10 min every other day for 28 days. The fluoxetine group was gavaged with 10 mg /kg fluoxetine. The expressions of glial fibrillary acidic protein（ GFAP） mRNA and GFAP in prefrontal cortex in the normal group were detected with RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining respectively. Results Comparing with the normal group

the morphology of astrocytes was shrinking and the expression of GFAP mRNA and integrated optical density（ IOD） of GFAP were significantly decreased in the model group（ P < 0. 01）. Comparing with the model group

the morphology of astrocytes was significantly improved and the expression of GFAP mRNA and IOD of GFAP were significantly increased in the acupuncture group and fluoxetine group（P < 0. 01）. Conclusion Acupuncture on Baihui（GV20） and Neiguan（PC6） can relieve the damage of astrocytes caused by chronic stress and play an antidepressant role possibly by up-regulating the expression of GFAP in prefrontal cortex.