Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) of "Zusanli"(ST 36)-"Quchi"(LI 11) on behavior changes and spinal inflammatory reactions in spinal ischemia-reperfusion injury(SI/RI) rabbits

so as to assess its protective effect on SI/RI.Methods Thirty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into sham-operation(sham)

SI/RI model(model) and EA groups.SI/RI model was established by occlusion of the abdominal aorta for 45 min.EA(2 Hz

1 mA) was applied to bilateral "Zusanli"(ST 36)-"Quchi"(LI 11) for 30 min after modeling

4 times(0 h

12 h

24 h and 36 h after modeling) altogether.The animals' motor function score of the hindlimb was assessed according to Tarlov's method.The contents of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and Interleukin-6(IL-6) of the lumbar spinal cord tissue were assayed by ELISA 48 h after modeling.Results Compared with the sham group

the animals' motor scores at 24 h and 48 h after modeling were decreased

and spinal TNF-α and IL-6 contents were increased significantly(all P<0.05) in the model group.In comparison with the model group

the animals' motor scores at both 24 h and 48 h were up-regulated considerably in the EA group(P<0.05)

suggesting an improvement of the neuronal function after EA intervention.The spinal TNF-α and IL-6 contents were obviously lower in the EA group than in the model group(P<0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture has a protective effect on the spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury of rabbits probably by reducing the local inflammatory reactions.