Objective: To explore time-effect relation of ele ctro-acupuncture (EA) of “Zusa nli”(ST 36) in influencing gastric mucosal total NOS and iNOS activity in rats with a lcohol-induced gastric mucosal injury. Methods: 126 Wistar ra ts were randomly div ided into model control group and EA group which were further divided into 0-h

0.5-h

1.0-h

3.0-h

6.0-h

12.0-h

and 24.0-h subgroups (each n =9) respectively . Bilateral “Zusanli” (ST 36) were punctured and stimulated electrically with parameters of frequency of 15 Hz

continuous waves

electric current of 2～3 mA and duration of 30 min. After treatment

the rats of two groups were killed at 0-h

0.5-h

1.0-h

3.0-h

6.0-h

12.0-h

and 24.0-h respectively for taking out gastr ic tissues. The contents of total NOS and iNOS in the rats' gastric mucosal tissues were assayed with nitrate reductase method. Results: Comparison between model and EA groups at the aforementioned time courses showed no statistical differe nces in the contents of both total NOS and iNOS of the gastric mucosal tissue ( P>0.05) . Nevertheless

the contents of both total NOS and iNOS in EA-0-h subgroup w ere higher than those of model control-0-h subgroup

suggesting that acupuncture stimula tio n might play an immediate role in raising total NOS and iNOS contents in the gas tric m ucosal tissues to a certain degree. Conclusion: EA of “Zusanl i”(ST 36) may pro duce an instant light action in raising total NOS and iNOS levels in the gastric muco sal tissue

and the time-effect of electroacupuncture in protecting gastric muc osal injury needs to be confirmed further.