Objective: To observe the effect of balancing technique of acupuncture on serum TNF-α and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) levels and on their correlation in cerebral ischemia rats for analyzing the underlying mechanism of acupuncture in preventing the cerebral tissues from ischemic injury. Methods: Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group

sham-operation group

model group and acupuncture group

with 15 cases in each group. Regional cerebral ischemia (CI) model was established by using photochemically initiated thrombosis vascular obstruction method. Serum TNF-α and sICAM-1 contents were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. “Piantan”-

“Jiantong”-

“Xitong”- “Tuntong”- and “Yaotong”-points on the healthy side were punctured and stimulated with reducing technique.Results: In CI rats of model group

serum TNF-α (2.54±0.58 ng/mL) and sICAM-1 (17.54±4.18 ng/mL) contents were significantly higher than those of normal control group (1.61±0.59 ng/mL

11.36±3.49 ng/mL) and sham-operation group (1.77±0.61 ng/mL

12.71±3.56 ng/mL); while in acupuncture group

TNF-α (2.16±0.53 ng/mL) and sICAM-1 (14.91±3.22 ng/mL) contents were significantly lower than those of model group (P<0.05)

suggesting that acupuncture can significantly inhibit CI induced increase of serum TNF-α and sICAM-1

which may contribute to the effect of acupuncture in preventing cerebral tissues from ischemic injury. Statistical analysis indicated that there was a positive correlation between serum TNF-α and sICAM-1 contents (r= 0.834

P<0.05) in their changes before and after CI. Conclusion: Balancing technique of acupuncture can effectively suppress CI induced elevation of serum TNF-α and sICAM-1 and there is a positive correlation between TNF-α and sICAM-1 levels.