To explore the mechanism of acupuncture treatment for nerve root compression syndrome

25 SD(Sprague Dawley)rats were chosen.The rats were divided into five groups:the normal group

fifteenth day model group

fifteenth day acupuncture group

thirtieth day model group

thirtieth day acupuncture group.By operation

a piece of slastic of proper size and weight was gently put on the site where L 5 nerve root origins from the dural sheath.Effects of acupuncture on nerve root ultramicrostructure were studied.Compared with the fifteenth day model group

less nerve fibers whose schwann cells were proximately normal partly demyelinated in the fifteenth day acupuncture group

the myelin sheaths were more recovered and the intraradicular edema was relieved in the thirtieth day acupuncture group.The above results suggest that acupuncture can ameliorate the ultramicrostructure of the nerve root which is compressed

and provide evidence for acupuncture treatment on lumbar nerve root compression syndrome.