Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture(EA) on the body weight

disease progression and the expression of heat shock protein 70(HSP70) in lumbar spinal cord of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS) mice

so as to explore the mechanism of EA on treating ALS. Methods Eighteen ALS transgenic SOD1

(G93 A)

mice were randomly divided into model

EA and medication groups

with 6 mice in each group

and six C57 BL/6 J mice were used as the normal group. Mice in the EA group received EA at "Quchi"(LI11)-"Hegu"(LI4)

"Zusanli"(ST36)-"Sanyinjiao"(SP6)

30 min/time

5 times/week

for 8 weeks.Mice in the medication group were given riluzole solution(7.6 mg·kg(G93 A) mice were randomly divided into model

EA and medication groups

with 6 mice in each group

and six C57 BL/6 J mice were used as the normal group. Mice in the EA group received EA at "Quchi"(LI11)-"Hegu"(LI4)

"Zusanli"(ST36)-"Sanyinjiao"(SP6)

30 min/time

5 times/week

for 8 weeks.Mice in the medication group were given riluzole solution(7.6 mg·kg

(-1)

·d(-1)·d

(-1)

) by gavage for 8 weeks. The body weight of the mice was recorded and the motor function of the hind limbs was evaluated by the neurological function scoring stan-dard of the ALS Therapeutic Development Institute. The expression of HSP70 in lumbar spinal cord was detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry

respectively. Results Compared with the normal group

the body weight and the expression of HSP70 in the model group decreased significantly(P

<

0.05)

while no significant difference in the body weight was found among other groups(P

>

0.05). After intervention and in comparison with the model group

the disease onset time and paralysis time of the EA group and the medication group were significantly delayed(P

<

0.05

P

<

0.01)

the expression of HSP70 in the EA group and the medicine group was significantly increased(P

<

0.05

P

<

0.01).But there was no significant difference in the survival time among all groups(P

>

0.05). The disease onset time of the EA group was shorter than that in the medication group(P

<

0.05).Conclusion EA can increase the expression of HSP70 in lumbar spinal cord

thereby delaying the progression of ALS.