OBJECTIVETo analyze and explore the molecular mechanism of acupuncture precondition (AP) in improving brain ischemia reperfusion injury.

METHODSSix male Wistar rats were divided into a normal group of 3 rats and an acupuncture group of 3 rats. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture precondition was first given at "Shenshu" (BL 23) and "Baihui" (GV 20). The brain of the rat was removed 0.5 hour after the needle was withdrawn, and then gene differential expression was analyzed by genechip method.

RESULTSAfter acupuncture precondition for 0.5 h, expression of 265 genes showed changes of more than 2 times, and that of 20 genes had a significant difference as compared with that of the normal rat (P<0.05). Among the genes, expression of 8 was upregulated and 12 downregulated; 11 were related with neuron signal conduction (ion channel, transmitter, receptor, second message), 5 with gene transcription and control, 2 with metabolism enzyme, 1 with heat shock reaction and 1 with cell skeleton.

CONCLUSIONSome gene expression substances induced by acupuncture play an important role in AP resisting brain ischemia reperfusion injury; and functional changes of neurons after AP are possibly the important basis of its subsequent action in resisting brain ischemia reperfusion injury.