Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)intervention on changes of neurological function and expression of cerebral cytochrome P 450 2C11(CYP 2C11)mRNA in focal cerebral ischemia(FCI)rats

so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of ischemic cerebral vascular disease.Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal

model

EA and EA+17-ODYA(17-Octadecynoic acid

an inhibitor for the metabolism of arachidonic acid by cytochrome P 450)groups.Focal cerebral ischemia rats were induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)with thread embolus.EA was applied to bilateral"Neiguan"(PC 6)and"Quchi"(LI 11)after MCAO.Zea Longa's score and beam walking test(BWT)score of rats were used to evaluate the neurological impairment.Local cerebral blood flow(LCBF)of the pial tissue was monitored using Laser-Doppler Flowmetry.The expression of cerebral CYP 2C11 mRNA was examined by Real-time Quantitative PCR(qPCR).Results In comparison with the normal group

BWT score and LCBF of the model group were significantly decreased(P<0.05)

and Zea Longa's score and cerebral CYP 2C11 mRNA expression level of the model group were significantly increased(P<0.05).While in comparison with the model group

BWT score

LCBF and cerebral CYP 2C11 mRNA levels were considerably up-regulated and Zea Longa's score was down-regulated in the EA group(P<0.05)rather than in the EA+17-ODYA group(P<0.05).H.E.stain showed that the nerve impairment of the ischemic cerebral tissue including the neuronal degeneration

necrosis

apoptosis

etc.was relatively milder in the EA group.Conclusion EA intervention can improve cerebral blood flow and up-regulate cerebral CYP 2C11 mRNA expression in FCI rats

which may contribute to its action in improving neurological impairment.