Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on learning-memory ability of vascular demen-tia(VD) rats

and the simultaneous changes of plasma and cerebral somatostatin(SS) and β-endorphin(EP) contents.Methods Forty-one SD rats were randomly divided into control(n=8)

model A(n=8

no treatment) and B(n=8

intragastric perfusion of 15% saline)

EA(n=9) and medication(n=8

intragastric perfusion of Nimoldipine

12 mg/kg) groups.VD model was established by using modified 4-vessels occlusion method.EA(150 Hz

1-2 mA) was applied to "Baihui"(GV 20)

"Dazhui"(DU 14)

"Pishu"(BL 20) and "Shenshu"(BL 23) for 20 min

once daily for 15 days.Morris water maze tests were conducted for evaluating the rats' learning-memory ability.The contents of SS and β-EP in plasma and brain tissue were measured by radioimmunoassay(RIA).Results In comparison with sham-operation group

the escape latency(EL) prolonged significantly and the target-platform crossing times decreased remarkably(P<0.01) in model group B.In comparison with model group B

EL shortened and target-platform crossing times increased both significantly in EA and medication groups(P<0.01).Plasma and cerebral SS

and cerebral β-EP contents of model groups A and B were significantly lower than those of sham-operation group(P<0.01)

while plasma β-EP level had no obvious change(P>0.05).Plasma and cerebral SS

and cerebral β-EP contents in both EA and medication groups were considerably higher than those in model groups A and B(P<0.01).No significant differences were found between EA and medication groups in EL

target-platform crossing times

plasma and cerebral SS and β-EP levels

and between model group A and model group B in plasma and cerebral SS and β-EP levels(P>0.05).Conclusion EA can raise plasma and cerebral SS and cerebral β-EP levels

and improve the learning-memory ability in VD rats.