OBJECTIVETo investigate effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) on Du Meridian on the water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) expression and hind limbs function recovery in experimental spinal cord injured rats.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty SD rats were divided into the normal group, the model group and the EA group, with 50 rats in each group, modified Allen method was used to establish spinal cord injury model in the model and EA group. Rats in the EA group was EA on Dazhui and Ming men acupoints after modelling successfully. At the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th and 21th day after injury, the hind limbs function of rats was evaluated by BBB scales respectively, and the AQP-4 expression in spinal cord tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry technique and quantity analysed with image analyzer.

RESULTSAt the 1st day after spinal cord injury, the AQP-4 expression was significantly increased in gray matter and white matter of spinal cord in the model group and the EA group, which reached the peak at the 3rd day, but showed significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05), and the difference at the 7th, 14th and 21th day became more significant (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONEA on Du Meridian can down-regulate AQP-4 expression after spinal cord injury, inhibit spinal cord edema for alleviating secondary spinal cord lesion, so as to protect the residual normal spinal cord tissues and promote the rebuilding of nervous tissues.