Objective To explore the mechanism of acupuncture in preventing and treating stress-induced gastric mucosal injury from the view of brain-gut axis.Methods Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control

model 1

treatment

model 2 and prevention groups(n=8).Gastric mucosa injury model was established by intragastric perfusion of dehydrated alcohol(1.0 mL/rat).Rats of the treatment group were treated with acupuncture after modeling

while those of the prevention group treated first

followed by modeling.The time of modeling in model 1 group and model 2 group was simultaneous with that of the treatment group and prevention group respectively.Acupuncture was applied to "Zusanli"(ST 36)

"Zhongwan"(CV 12) and "Neiguan"(PC 6) for 20 min

once daily for 5 days.Before sampling the tissues

10% charcoal suspension was intragastric perfused 1 h for analyzing the rate of gastrointestinal propulsion(distance from the upper end of the charcoal powder to the cardia / total length of the cardia to the anus×100%).Gastric mucosal ulcer index was measured by using Guth's method.The contents of β-endorphin(β-EP)in plasma and hypothalamus were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results Compared with the normal control group

the gastrointestinal propulsion rates were decreased considerably in the two model groups(P<0.05)

while the gastric mucosal ulcer indexes and the contents of β-EP in both plasma and hypothalamus were increased significantly in the model groups(P<0.05

P<0.01).Compared with the corresponding model groups

the gastrointestinal propulsion rate was increased remarkably in the prevention group(P<0.05)

and the gastric mucosal ulcer indexes and the contents of plasma β-EP level were decreased obviously in both treatment and prevention groups(P<0.05

P<0.01).The contents of hypothalamic β-EP were increased further in the later two groups(P<0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture of ST 36

CV 12 and PC 6 can promote the repair of gastric mucosal injury and improve gastrointestinal function

which may be related to its effects in reducing plasma β-EP and upregulating hypothalamic β-EP level.Acupuncture also has a better effect in preventing gastric mucosal injury.