Objective:To study the mechanism of electroacupuncture(EA)in treating ischemic cerebrovascular disease.Methods:Reversible cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(CI/R)model of rats was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery and reperfusion.Sixty-three Wistar rats were randomized into sham-operation

CI-2 h/R-1 h

CI-2 h/R-1 h+EA

CI-2 h/R-3 h

CI-2 h/R-3 h+EA

CI-2 h/R-6 h

CI-2 h/R-6 h+EA groups with 9 cases being in each group.EA(4/60 Hz in frequency

2 mA)was applied to “Shuigou”(GV 26)

“Zhongchong”(PC 9)and “Fengfu”(GV 16)for 15 min.After decapitation

the rats' brain tissue was collected for detecting superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity and malondialdehyde(MDA)content by using nitroblue tetrazolium hydroxylamine method and thiobarbituric barbiturate reaction method separately.HSP70 expression was measured by immunohistochemical technique.Results:Compared with sham-operation group

SOD activity in CI-2 h/R-1 h

CI-2 h/R-3 h and CI-2 h/R-6 h groups decreased obviously(P<0.01)

and MDA contents in these 3 CI/R groups increased obviously(P<0.01)

while compared with their corresponding CI/R groups

SOD activity increased considerably and MDA contents lowered apparently in the CI-2 h/R-1 h+EA

CI-2 h/R-3 h+EA and CI-2 h/R-6 h+EA groups(P<0.05

0.01).HSP70 expression presented a marked increase tendency in the 3 CI/R groups and after EA the expression increased further.Conclusion:EA can raise SOD activity

lower MDA content in the brain tissue and enhance HSP70 expression in CI/R rats.