68 Sprague-Dawley rats were prepared to acute

incomplete cerebral ischemia by cutting off bilateral carotid arteries

and the animal models of vascular dementia(VD) were made. Then they were divided randomly into ischemic group(Isch

34 cases)and electroacupunture group(EA

34 cases). In our study

we respectively detected the amount of autonomic activity

the response ability of learning escape dark

the contents of blood superoxide dismutase(SOD)

blood cortisol

norepinephrine(NE)

dopamine (DA)

5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) in cortex

striatum

hippocampus and hypathalamus. Results: the amount of autonomic activity

the response ability of learning escape dark

SOD in Isch and EA group decreased significantly (P < 0. 001) as compared with the control group (35 cases)

but those in EA group were much higher than those in Isch group (P < 0. 05-0.01 ). Conclusion: Electroacupuncture can promote the amount of autonomic activity and the response ability of learning escape dark in the animal model of VD

which closely related with improving the cerebral circulation

enhancing the ability of SOD

cortisol

NE

DA and 5-HT.