Objective: To investigate the effect of electroacu puncture (EA) on changes of be havior and some related hormones of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axi s in chronic stress rats. Methods: Fifty male SD Rats were eve nly randomized int o control

stress-model

Prozac-20

trussing-model and EA groups. Chronic s tres s model was established by using mixed stimulation including cool water swimming

tail-clamping

fasting

electric shock

etc.

and trussing-model establishe d b y fastening the chronic stress rat to the animal table for 20 min

once daily

21 days altogether. EA (2 Hz

0.6 mA

20 min) was applied to “Baihui” (GV 20) and “ Yintang”(EX-HN 3)

once daily

continuously for 21 days. Prozac-20 (1.8 mg/k g) wa s given to the rats by using intragastric perfusion method. The rat’s behavior was observed by using Open-field method and the rat’s sucrose intake volume p er day under water-banning condition was calculated. The contents of corticotrop in releasing factor (CRF) in the hypothalamic tissue

adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the pituitary and corticosterone (CORT) in the adrenal tissue were det ected with radioimmunoassay techniques. Results: Compared with control group

th e rats’ horizontal and vertical movement times and sucrose intake volume decrea s ed significantly while pituitary ACTH and adrenal CORT contents increased remark ably in both model and trussing-model groups (P<0.05). In compa rison with contro l group

the rats’ vertical movement times and sucrose intake volume increased c onsiderably while ACTH and CORT contents lowered significantly in both EA and P rozac-20 groups (P<0.05). Conclusion:Chronic stress may cause the stress rats to move less and result in hyperactivity of the HPA axis

whereas electroacupun cture can promote recovery of the rats’ abnormal behavior and adjust the secret ion of ACTH and CORT by inhibiting the hyperactivity of the HPA axis.