To probe the effect of the electroacupuncture on vascular dementia and the content of adrenal corticotropic hormone(ACTH) in the hypothalamus of the ratMethods:30 SD rats were made renal hypertension(RHR) by the kidney arteries pinched with silver clipAfter 42 days

their bilateral common carotid artery were blocked repeatedly to cause cerebral ischemiaThe Hypertension-Vascular Dementia model was madeThen they were divided into model group

electroacupuncture group and medicine group(Dihydroergotoxine

DHET) with 10 in each groupThe course was 28 daysThe ability of learning and memorizing was observed by water maze

and the contents of ACTH in the hypothalamus were detected after treatmentResults:The latent period of the electroacupuncture group and medicine group was shorter than that of the model group

and that of the electroacupuncture group was shorter than medicine groupIn the hypothalamus

the content of ACTH in the electroacupuncture was lower than that in the medicine and model group(P<005

P<005)

but there was no difference between the medicine group and the model group(P>005)Conclusion:It indicated that electroacupuncture therapy could promote the ability of learning and memorizing and reduce the content of ACTH in the hypothalamus of hypertensive VDIt's therapeutic effect was better than DHET