Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on the differentiation and proliferation of nerve stem cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus(DG) in splenic asthenia pedo-rats so as to study its central mechanism.Methods A total of 72 SD male rats were randomly assigned to normal control group(n=24)

model group(n=24) and EA group(n=24) which were further divided into 7 d

14 d

28 d and 49 d time-points(n=6).Splenic asthenia model was established by intrape-ritoneal injection of reserpine and gavage of Dahuang(Radix et Rhizoma Rhei) fluid.EA was applied to bilateral "Zusanli"(ST 36) and "Sanyinjiao"(SP 6) for 20 min

once daily for 7

14

28 and 49 days respectively.Brdu

Nestin

glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)

and neuron-specific enolase(NSE) expression in the DG of hippocampus were detected by immunohistochemistry double staining.Results Compared with the normal control group

the numbers of Brdu

Brdu/GFAP

Brdu/NSE immunorea-ctive(IR) positive cells in the DG of hippocampus on day 7 and 14

and that of Brdu/Nestin IR-positive cells on day 7 were decreased considerably in the model group(P<0.05).Compared to the model group

the numbers of hippocampal Brdu IR-positive cells at the 4 time-points

Brdu/Nestin and Brdu/GFAP on day 7

14 and 49

and Brdu/NSE on day 7

14 and 28 were increased significantly in the EA group(P<0.05).No significant differences were found between the model and control groups in the numbers of hippocampal Brdu and Brdu/NSE IR-positive cells on day 28 and 49

in the number of Brdu/Nestin IR-positive cells on day 14 and 49

in the number of Brdu/GFAP IR-positive cells on day 28;and between the EA and model groups in the numbers of Brdu/Nestin and Brdu/GFAP IR-positive cells on day 28

and in the number of Brdu/NSE IR-positive cells on day 49(P>0.05).Conclusion EA of ST 36 and SP 6 can effectively suppress splenic asthenia syndrome-induced decrease of the numbers of Brdu

Brdu/GFAP

Brdu/Nestin and Brdu/NSE IR-positive cells in the DG of hippocampus at the early stage in the splenic asthenia rats

which may contribute to its effect in improving splenic asthenia symptoms in clinic by promoting the proliferation and differentiation of some nerve stem cells in the hippocampus.