Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)of "Baihui"(GV 20)and "Yamen"(GV 15)on the permeability of blood-brain barrier for exogenous nerve growth factor(NGF)and its relevance to PKC pathway in cerebral ischemia(CI)rats.Methods Forty-eight SD rats were randomized into sham-operation(sham)

model

NGF

EA

NGF+EA

and NGF+H7+EA groups.CI model was established by repeated occlusion of the bilateral carotid arteries and reperfusion.NGF(10 μg/kg)was administrated by intravenous injection(vena caudalis);while H 7 [1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-mehtylpoperazine

an inhibitor of protein kinase C(PKC)

1 mg/kg] was given by intraperitoneal injection.EA(100 Hz

2 mA)was applied to "Baihui"(GV 20)and "Yamen"(GV 15)for 20 min.NGF content in the brain tissue was assayed by enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results In comparison with sham group

cerebral NGF content had no apparent change in model group(P>0.05).Comparison among the abovementioned 6 groups showed that cerebral NGF level in NGF+EA group was significantly higher than those in sham

model

EA and NGF groups(P<0.01).No significant differences were found among sham

model

NGF

EA and NGF+H7+EA groups and between NGF+EA and NGF+H7+EA groups in cerebral NGF contents(P>0.05).Conclusion EA of GV 20 and GV 15 can raise the permeability of blood-brain barrier for NGF to increase its level in the cerebral tissue in CI rats

favoring the regeneration and repair of nerves

which has no clear relevance to PKC pathway.