BDNF and depressive disorder: Moreover, animal studies have shown that the release of depression symptoms with acupuncture on GV20 and EX-HN3 may be related to decreasing serum corticosterone concentrations and increasing neurotransmitter levels (5-HT, Glu, and GABA) and protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (77, 78).