Objective:To observe the effects of warming-promotion needling(WPN)on the levels of plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP)and endothelin(ET)contents in vascular dementia(VD)rats so as to investigate its underlying mechanism in improving VD.Methods:A total of 50 Wistar rats were randomized into normal control

model

medication

WPN

and needle-twirling groups

with 10 cases in each.VD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of sodium nitroprusside(2.5 mg/kg)in combination with repeated occlusion of the bilateral common carotid arteries and reperfusion.For rats in medication group

Nimodipine(0.0108 g/kg)was given(oral perfusion)

and for animals in WPN and needle-twirling groups "Dazhui"(GV 14)

"Baihui"(GV 20)and "Shuigou"(GV 26)were punctured manually by manipulating the needle with WPN and common twirling methods respectively

60 s for each acupoint.The treatment was given once daily for 15 days.Plasma CGRP and ET contents were measured by radioimmunoassay.Results:Compared with normal control group

plasma CGRP content in model group decreased considerably(P<0.01)

while plasma ET level in model group increased significantly(P<0.01).In comparison with model group

CGRP contents of WPN

needle-twirling and medication groups increased significantly(P<0.05

0.01)

while plasma ET levels of WPN

needle-twirling and medication groups decreased significantly(P<0.01).The therapeutic effects of WPN group were significantly superior to those of needle-twirling group in raising CGRP content and lowering ET level(P<0.01);and the therapeutic effect of medication group was markedly superior to that of needle-twirling group in lowering ET content(P<0.01).No significant differences were found between WPN and medication groups in raising plasma CGRP and lowering ET level

and between needle-twirling and medication groups in raising CGRP content(P>0.05).Conclusion:Warming-promotion needling can effectively lower plasma ET and raise plasma CGRP level in VD rats

which may contribute to its clinical effect in improving VD patients' memory-learning ability.