OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of electroacupuncture on the neural plasticity in rats with cerebral infarction and investigate its mechanism.

METHODSSixty rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, an acupuncture group and a non-acupuncture group, and each group was randomly divided into a 1-day subgroup, a 7-day subgroup and a 14-day subgroup. Cerebral infarction model was induced by the thread embolism method. The rats in the acupuncture group were treated by electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Neiguan" (PC 6) for 20 minutes, once each day, while the rats in the sham operation group and the non-acupuncture group were just bound and fixed at the same time without acupuncture treatment. Neurological defects were assessed by Neurological Severity Score (NSS) and the changes of the expression of growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) in peripheral nerve around cerebral infarction area were detected by immunohistochemistry technique.

RESULTSThe expression of the positive cells of GAP-43 around cerebral infarction area showed no significant distinction among the three groups at 1st day (P > 0.05), while the GAP-43 expression level of around cerebral infarction area in the acupuncture group (IOD:8. 990 1 +/- 0.098 7, 5.816 1 +/- 0.204 6) were significant higher than those in the sham operation group (IOD: 1.300 2 +/- 0.093 3, 1.362 6 +/- 0.216 6) and in the non-acupuncture group (IOD: 2.753 4 +/- 0.0875, 1.616 5 +/- 0.186 8) at 7th day and 14th day, respectively (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Neiguan" (PC 6) can improve the neural function and promote its remodeling in rats with cerebral infarction and the relevant mechanisms may be involved in enhancement of GAP-43 expressions around ischemic region.