Objective: To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression and content of nuclear factor-κB in hippocampus of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (CI/R). Methods: A total of 120 SD rats were randomly divided into normal group (n=10)

sham operation group (n=27)

model group (n=36) and EA group (n=36)

and the lateral 3 groups were evenly divided into 24 h

48 h and 72 h subgroups. CI/R model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)and reperfusion with the suture in MCA. EA ( 2 Hz

1 mA

continuous waves) was applied to “Dazhui”(GV 14) and bilateral “Neiguan”(PC 6) for 30 min

once 3 h after CI/R

followed by once every 12 h . The hippocampus tissue was taken out to be cut into sections ( 5 μm ). The expression and content of nuclear factor (NF)-κB-p65 protein in hippocampus were assayed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Results: In comparison with normal group

NF-κB-p65 expression-positive cells of hippocampal CA1 area in 24 h of model group

and every 48 h and 72 h subgroup of model and EA groups were significantly more ( P< 0.05

0.01). Compared with 24 h

48 h and 72 h subgroups of model group

NF-κB-p65 expression-positive cells in the corresponding subgroups of EA group were significantly fewer (P<0.01). The grey values of NF-κB-p65 protein in the 3 subgroups of model group were significantly higher than those of normal group and sham-operation groups (P<0.01); while the grey values of NF-κB-p65 in the 3 subgroups of EA group were markedly lower than those in the corresponding 3 subgroups of model group (P<0.05). Conclusion: EA can reduce the expression and content of nuclear factor-κB-p65 in hippocampus of rats with CI/R and prevent it from being transported to the nucleus of the neurons in hippocampal CA1 area

which may contribute to the protective effect of EA on ischemic neurons.