Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)and EA combined with intracerebral injection of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)on endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS)related proteins and genes as activating transcription factor(ATF 6)

inositol requiring enzyme-1(IRE 1)

CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein(CHOP)

X box-binding protein-1(XBP 1)of cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury(CIRI)rats

so as to study its repair effect for CIRI.Methods Forty male SD rats were equally and randomly divided into 5 groups:sham operation

model

EA

VEGF and EA+VEGF groups(n=8).The CIRI model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery(MCAO)with thread embolism method.For rats of the sham operation group

the right common carotid artery was isolated without MCAO.EA(2 Hz/100 Hz

1-3 mA)was applied to"Baihui"(GV 20)

left"Quchi"(LI 11)and left"Zusanli"(ST 36)for 30 min

once a day for 14 days.For rats of the VEGF and EA+VEGF groups

10!L VEGF(0.025!g/!L)was injected into the lateral ventricle 24 hafter successful modeling.The rats' neurological function was assessed by using the modified neurological severity score(mNSS)

and the histopathological changes of cerebral tissue were observed by Nissl staining method.The expression levels of ERS related proteins and genes ATF 6

IRE 1

XBP 1 and CHOP were determined by western blot(WB)and fluorescent quantitative PCR

separately.Results After modeling

the level of mNSS was significantly higher in the model group than in the sham operation group(P<0.05)

and the number of Nissl bodies was markedly lower in the model group than in the sham operation group(P<0.05).Following the treatment

the mNSS was significantly lower in the EA

VEGF and EA+VEGF groups than in the model group(P<0.05)

and the numbers of Nissl bodies were obviously higher in the EA

VEGF and EA+VEGF groups than in the model group(P<0.05)

suggesting an improvement of neurological dysfunction and a repair of the injured cerebral tissue after the treatment.The levels of CIRI-induced increase of mNSS and CIRI-induced decrease of the number of Nissl bodies in the EA+VEGF group were respectively remarkably lower or higher than those of the simple EA and simple VEGF groups(P<0.05).WB and PCR showed that the expression levels of ATF 6

IRE 1

XBP1 and CHOP proteins and genes were notably higher in the model group than in the sham operation group(P<0.05)

and considerably lower in the EA

VEGF and EA+VEGF groups than in the model group(P<0.05).Comparison among the three treatment groups showed that after the treatment

the expression levels of ATF 6

IRE 1

XBP1 and CHOP proteins and genes were obviously lower in the EA+VEGF group than in the EA and VEGF groups(P<0.05).Conclusion EA and EA plus intracerebral microinjection of VEGF can improve neurological function and promote cerebral tissue repair in CIRI rats

which is associated with their effects in down-regulating the expression of ERS related proteins ATF 6

IRE 1

XBP1 and CHOP.The effect of EA+VEGF is superior to that of simple EA and simple VEGF.