OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of acupuncture pretreatment at specific acupoints on action potential of cerebellar Purkenje cells in rats early after cerebral ischemia.

METHODSForty male SD rats were randomized into control group, ischemia group, acupuncture pretreatment group and acupuncture pretreatment plus ischemia group. The rats in acupuncture groups received acupuncture pretreatment at Baihui and bilateral Zusanli twice daily for 7 consecutive days, after which brain slices were prepared and perfused at a lowered rate to simulate in vivo ischemic stroke. Microelectrode and whole cell current clamp technique were used for recording the action potentials of cerebellar Purkenje cells to detect changes in spike encoding of the cells.

RESULTSCompared with those in the control group, the rat brain slices early after simulated ischemia showed significantly shortened inter-spike intervals, increased standard deviation of spike timing and decreased voltage of threshold potentials (P<0.01), suggesting overexcitation of the Purkinje cells. Acupuncture pretreatment at Baihui and bilateral Zusanli obviously suppressed overexcitation of the Purkinje cells in response to ischemia.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture pretreatment at Baihui and bilateral Zusanli can improve ischemic stroke by suppressing overexcitation of Purkenje cells in rats.