Objective To investigate the effect of the eye-acupuncture therapy on cerebral intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) expression in rats with acute cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury(CI/RI) so as to reveal its underlying mechanism.Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly and equally divided into normal

sham operation(sham)

model and eye-acupuncture groups.Acute CI/RI model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery with a modified suture-blocking method.Filiform needles were inserted into the "Gan"(Liver Area)

"Shangjiao"(Upper Energizer Area)

"Xiajiao"(Lower Energizer Area)

etc.of the eye-acupuncture acupoints

and retained for 20min.The treatment was conducted twice daily

7 times altogether.Seventy-two hours after Acute CI/RI

the neurological behavior was assessed by ZeaLonga neurophysical impairment scale.Cerebral ICAM-1 protein and ICAM-1 mRNA expression levels were detected by Western blot(Penumbra area of the right cerebral infarction region) and real time-polymerase chain reaction(PCR) methods

respectively.Results After modeling

the neurophysical impairment score of the model group was increased from 0 to(2.63±0.92) points on the first day and(2.63±0.74) points 72h following Acute CI/RI.Correspondingly

cerebral ICAM-1 protein and mRNA expression was up-regulated considerably in the model group than in the normal control group(P<0.01).In comparison with the model group

the neurologic impairment score

and cerebral ICAM-1 protein and mRNA expression levels of the eye-acupuncture group were down-regulated obviously(P<0.01

P<0.05).No significant differences were found between the normal control and sham groups in neurologic impairment score and the expression levels of the ICAM-1 protein and ICAM-1 mRNA(P>0.05).Conclusion Eye-acupuncture therapy can improve the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury induced behavior changes

which may be related to its effects in down-regulating the expression of cerebral ICAM-1 protein and gene.