Objective To study the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) of Stomach Meridian acupoints on changes of the related protein phosphorylation in the gastric mucosa involving the repair of the injured gastric mucosa in the rat.Methods A total of 20 SD rats were divided into control

model

acupoint and non-acupoint groups

with 5 cases in each.Gastric mucosa injury model was established by intragastric perfusion of dehydrated alcohol(0.8 ml/100 g).EA(4 Hz/50 Hz

1-3 mA) was applied to "Zusanli"(ST 36)

"Liangmen"(ST 21) and "Sibai"(ST 2)

and the corresponding non-acupoints

once daily for 7 days.Gastric mucosal ulcer index(UI) was measured

and the profiling of the protein phosphorylation of interest in gastric mucosa cells was detected by antibody microarrays.Results In comparison with control group

the gastric mucosal UI of model group was significantly higher than that of control group(P<0.01)

while the UI of EA group was significant lower than those of model group and non-acupoint group(P<0.01)

suggesting a recovery of the injured mucous membrane.Findings of protein array analysis indicated that a total of 720 kinds of phosphorylated proteins(≥1.5 folds)were found in the injured gastric mucosa.Compared to model group

the phosphorylation levels of 100 and 20 proteins were up-regulated

and 16 and 9 proteins down-regulated in acupoint and non-acupoint groups

respectively.The up-regulated proteins involve cell cycle mediation

cell proliferation

anti-apoptosis

and the regulation of the cell adhesion

cytoskeleton protein

inflammation

immune activities

etc.while the down-regulated proteins involve the down-regulation of the phosphorylation levels of the apoptosis proteins

adhesion proteins and cytoskeleton proteins

etc.In comparison to non-acupoint group

the phosphorylation levels of 100 proteins were up-regulated and 16 proteins down-regulated in acupoint group.Conclusion EA of acupoints of the Stomach Meridian can promote repair of the injured gastric mucosa

which may be related to its effects in regulating the levels of phosphorylation of many signaling proteins.