Objective: To observe the time-effect of needling twelve Jing(well)-points on TNF-α levels in the serum and cerebral tissue in rats with cerebral ischemia(CI).Methods: A total of 96 male Wistar rats were randomized into normal control(n=8)

sham-operation(n=8)

CI(n=40) and acupuncture(n=40) groups.CI model was established by adopting photochemical method.The twelve Jing-points(bilateral LU 11

LI 1

PC 9

TE 1

HT 9

SI 1) were pricked with a filiform needle(gauge-30)(1 h)

(3 h)

(6 h)

(12 h) and(24 h) after the establishment of CI model.The rats were killed respectively after six days of treatment for taking blood and brain tissue samples.Serum and cerebral TNF-α contents were assayed with radioimmunoassay according to the instructions of reagent kits.Results: Compared with normal control group

cerebral and serum TNF-α contents in CI group at(1 h)

(3 h)

(6 h)

(12 h) and (24 h) after CI increased significantly(P<0.05);while comparison between acupuncture and CI groups showed that cerebral TNF-α contents of acupuncture group and serum TNF-α levels from(1 h) to(24 h) after CI were significantly lower than those of CI group at the same time courses(P<0.05

0.01). No significant differences were found between normal control and sham-operation groups

and between normal control and acupuncture groups in cerebral and serum TNF-α levels(P>0.05).Conclusion: Acupuncture of twelve Jing-points has a definite effect in reducing CI-induced increase of both cerebral and serum TNF-α contents

which may contribute to its action in improving cerebral ischemia in clinic.