Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)combined with medication on changes of expression of Nestin

glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)and neuron specific enolase(NSE)in the hippocampal CA 1and CA 3regions of focal cerebral ischemia(FCI)rats

so as to analyze its mechanisms underlying neuroprotection.Methods Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control

model

EA

medication

and EA+medication groups(n=10in each group).The FCI model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)with thread embolus.EA(2Hz

2V)was applied to the left"Hegu"(LI 4)and"Quchi"(LI 11)for 30 min

once daily for 14 days after MCAO.Rats of the medication group were given with intraperitoneal injection of gastrodin(10mg/kg).The expression of Nestin

GFAP and NSE in the hippocampal CA 1and CA 3regions were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with the normal control group

the numbers of Nestinand GFAP-immunoreaction(IR)positive cells in both CA 1and CA 3regions of the hippocampus were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.05)

while those of NSE-IR positive cells in both CA 1and CA 3regions were significantly decreased in the model group(P<0.05).After EA and medication interventions

the numbers of Nestin-and NSE-IR positive cells in the CA 1and CA 3regions were evidently increased and GFAP-IR positive neurons were considerably reduced in the EA

medication and EA+medication groups(P<0.05).The effects of EA+medication were significantly superior to those of both EA and simple medication in up-regulating the number of Nestin-and NSE-IR positive cells and down-regulating the number of GFAP positive neurons in CA 1and CA 3regions(P<0.05).Conclusion EA and EA intervention combined with gastrodin can significantly up-regulate the number of Nestin-and NSE-IR positive cells

and down-regulate the number of GFAP positive cells in the CA 1and CA 3regions of hippocampus in focal cerebral ischemia rats

which may contribute to their effects in promoting the differentiation and proliferation of mature neurons in the hippocampus for improving cerebral functions.The effects of EA+medication are obviously better than simple EA intervention.