Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture of "Baihui"(GV 20) and "Zusanli"(ST 36) on the expression of interleukin(IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α proteins in the bilateral cerebral tissue in cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury(CI/RI) rats

so as to explore its mechanism underlying improving CI.Methods Seventy-eight SD rats were randomized into sham-operation(control) group(n=6)

model group(n=36) and acupuncture group(n=36)

and the latter two groups were further divided into 12

24

48

72

96 and 144 h subgroups(n=6 in each subgroup) according to the reperfusion time.Acupuncture stimulation was applied to GV 20 and left ST 36 for 20 min at the required time-points after successful operation

once a day.The expression of IL-1β and TNF-α in bilateral brain tissue was examined by immunohistochemistry.Results Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of cerebral IL-1β protein in cerebral ischemia regions exhibited a double-peak

and the peak time in the model group was at 48 h and 96 h

while the expression of TNF-α protein in cerebral ischemia regions exhibited a single-peak

and the peak time in both model and acupuncture groups was at 72 h.In comparison with the normal group and sham group

cerebral IL-1β and TNF-α protein expression levels of both ischemic and non-ischemic regions were increased significantly in the model group(P<0.05).Compared to the model group

the expression levels of cerebral IL-1β and TNF-α of both ischemic and non-ischemic regions in the acupuncture group at most of the time-points after CI/RI were decreased obviously(P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture can effectively suppress the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α proteins in bilate-ral ischemic and non-ischemic cerebral regions in CI/RI rats

suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect of acupuncture intervention.