The changes of sciatic nerve Na+ -K+ /ATPase activity in diabetic rats were detected by neurobiochemical methods to analyse the therapeutic effects of EA. Results: 1 ). In the first batch of experiment

the sciatic nerve Na+ -K+ /ATPase activity of diabetic group (DM) decreased significantly at the 6th week(P < 0. 05) and 10th week(P < 0. 001 ) compared with the normal (ND) group. While in the EA group the Na+ -K+ /ATPase activity did not decrease at the 6th week (compared with DM group

P < 0. 05)

and decreased significantly at the 10th week (withdrawing treatment for 4 weeks

P < 0. 01 )

but which was less severe than that in the DM group (P < 0. 05 ). 2) In the second batch of experiment

the Na+ -K+ /ATPase activity of the DM group began to decrease at the end of 4th week (P >0. 05 )

and decreased significantly at the end of 8th

12th and 24th week (P < 0. 001

respectively) compared with the ND group. In the EA group (treated with EA for 24 weeks) Na+ -K+ / ATPase activity had no significant decrease at each time point

having a significant high value at the end of sib

12th and 24th week compared with that in the DM group (P < 0. 001

respectively). These results suggest that EA can prevent and treat the neuropathy by protection against the decreasing of Na+ -K+ /ATPase activity. The mechanisms of EA influencing on the Na+ -K + /ATPase activity were discussed in this paper.