Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)on peripheral blood endothelial progenitor cell(EPC)counts

vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)level and total nitric oxide synthase(TNOS)and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)activity in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury(CI/RI)rats.Methods A total of 72 male rats were randomly and evenly assigned to normal control

sham-operation(sham)

model and EA groups which were further divided into 24 h

48 h and 72 h subgroups

with 6 cases in each.Acute focal cerebral ischemia model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery(MCAO

120 min)and reperfusion.EA(2/15 Hz

1 mA)was applied to "Quchi"(LI 11)and "Zusanli"(ST 36)for 30 min

once daily.Peripheral blood was collected from abdominal aorta for detecting EPC count by using flow cytometry

serum VEGF level by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)

and serum TNOS and iNOS activity by spectrophotometry

respectively.Results Compared with the corresponding normal control subgroups

blood EPC counts

serum TNOS and iNOS activity and serum VEGF content at 24 h

iNOS activity and VEGF level at 48 h

and EPCs and iNOS at 72 h in model subgroups all increased significantly(P<0.01

P<0.05).In comparison with the corresponding model subgroups

EPC count at 24 h and 72 h

and TNOS activity at 24 h in EA subgroups decreased considerably(P<0.01

P<0.05);while EPC and VEGF levels at 48 h in EA subgroup increased evidently(P<0.05

P<0.01).No significant differences were found among normal

sham

model and EA subgroups in serum TNOS activity at 48 h and 72 h(P>0.05).Conclusion EA of LI 11 and ST 36 can suppress CI/RI induced increase of blood EPC count and serum TNOS activity

and upregulate serum VEGF level

which may contribute to its effect in relieving CI/RI.