Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)of "Xiusanzhen" [bilateral "Yingxiang"(LI 20)+"Yintang"(GV 29)] on learning-memory ability and hippocampal somatostatin(SS)and arginine vasopressin(AVP)contents in vascular dementia(VD)rats.Methods Forty SD rats were randomly divided into control

VD model

VD plus olfactory bulb lesion(OBL

destroyed by electro-coagulation)and EA groups

with 10 cases in each.VD model was established by 4-vessel occlusion.Morris maze tests were conducted for evaluating the rats' learning and memory ability.EA(1-3 mA

80/100 Hz)was applied to bilateral LI 20 and GV 29 in VD+OBL and EA groups for 10 min

once daily(except Saturdays and Sundays)for 6 weeks.The contents of SS and AVP in hippocampus tissue were measured by radioimmunoassay.Results In comparison with control group

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

the AEL was shortened and TPCT increased remarkably in EA group(P<0.01).No significant differences were found between VD model and VD+OBL groups in the AEL and the TPCT(P>0.05).Hippocampal SS and AVP contents in VD model group were significantly lower than those in control group(P<0.05)

while those in EA group were markedly higher than those in VD model group(P<0.05).No significant differences were found between VD model and VD+OBL groups in SS and AVP contents(P>0.05).Conclusion EA of "Xiusanzhen" can improve VD rats' learning-memory ability

which may be related to its effects in raising hippocampal SS and AVP contents and to the intact olfactory pathway.