Objective:To evaluate the influence of ankle acupuncture on the cognitive impairment caused by sevoflurane in elderly rats and the expression of hippocampal phosphorylated phospholipase Cγ (p-PLCγ).Methods:Fifteen SPF-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 18 months, weighing 530-600 g, were allocated into 3 groups ( n=5 each) using a random number table method: sham surgery group (S group), cognitive dysfunction group (CD group) and ankle acupuncture group (A group). The cognitive dysfunction model was prepared by inhaling the mixture of 3% sevoflurane and air, with ankle acupuncture applied to the right hind limb 1-3 region for 30 min prior to anesthesia in A group. S group received sham stimulation. Two days later, the cognitive function was assessed using the Morris water maze test. The rats were subsequently sacrificed and hippocampal tissues were collected for microscopic examination of the pathological changes (using HE staining and Nissl staining) and for determination of the expression of p-PLCγ, phosphorylated calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ (p-CaMKⅡ) and phosphorylated inositol-1, 4, 5-trisphosphate receptor (p-IP3R). Results:Compared with S group, the escape latency was significantly prolonged, the number of crossing the original platform quadrant was reduced, and the expression of p-PLCγ, p-CaMKII and p-IP3R was up-regulated in CD group and A group ( P<0.05). Compared with CD group, the escape latency was significantly shortened, the number of crossing the original platform quadrant was increased, and the expression of p-PLCγ, p-CaMKII and p-IP3R was down-regulated in A group ( P<0.05). The pathological changes were significantly reduced in A group compared with CD group. Conclusions:Ankle acupuncture can ameliorate cognitive dysfunction induced by sevoflurane in elderly rats, and the mechanism is related to inhibition of hippocampal p-PLCγ expression.