ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)preconditioning on autophagy in cerebral cortex tissues of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury(CIRI)

so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of CIRI.MethodsThirty-three male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation

model and EA groups(n=11 in each group). EA(2 Hz/15 Hz

1 mA)was applied to"Baihui"(GV20)

"Quchi"(LI11)and"Zusanli"(ST36)for 30 min

once daily for 5 days

followed by establishment of CIRI model by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery(MCAO)for 1. 5 h and reperfusion for 24 h. The neurological deficit score was assessed in reference to Longa's methods

and the infarct volume assessed by 2

3

5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. The density of dendrite spines of neurons in the ischemic cerebral cortex tissue was detected by Golgi's staining

the autophagosome observed by electron microscopy

and the expression levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3)and Compared with the sham operation group

the neurological deficit score and infarct volume were significantly increased(P<0. 01)

the number of autophagosomes and the ratio of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ also significantly increased(P<0. 01)

while the expression level of p62 was notably decreased in the model group(P<0. 01). Following the intervention and in comparison with the model group

the neurological deficit score and infarct volume were significantly reduced(P<0. 01)

the number of autophagosomes and the ratio of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ obviously decreased(P<0. 01)

and the expression of p62 was significantly up-regulated in the EA group(P<0. 01).ConclusionEA pretreatment is effective in improving CIRI in rats

which may be realized through suppressing autophagy in the ischemic cerebral cortex tissue.