Effects of electroacupuncture(EA) and electrical stimulation of the somatosensory area II(SII) of the cerebral cortex on contents of plasma cortisol in cats were investigated in order to probe if SII is involved in the regulative effect on adrenal cotical functions.Adult cats were randomly divided into four groups: control

electrical stimulation of SII and EA plus stimulation of SII. EA was applied at Huantiao and Yanglingquan POints on the right side for 30 min. Electrical stimulation was given on the SII surface of the left side. The content of plasma cortisol were measured with radioimmunoassay.Results showed that EA

electrical stimulation of SII and EA plus electrical stimulation of SII produced a smillar affect on the content of plasma cortisone

suggesting that EA and electrical stimulation of SII have a common central mechanism

by which adrenal cortical functions are regulated. SII is involved possibly in the regulative effect of EA.