Objective To study the protective effects of electroacupuncture(EA) on the cortical microvasculature in rats with focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury(CI/RI).Methods Eighty SD rats were randomly divided into:normal group(n=8)

sham-operation(sham) group(n=8)

model group(n=32) and EA group(n=32).The CI/RI model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 30 min and reperfusion for 1 day(d)

2 d

4 d and 8 d respectively.EA was applied to "Baihui"(GV 20)

"Shuigou"(GV 26) and bilateral "Zusanli"(ST 36) areas for 30 min

once daily for 1 d

2 d

4 d and 8 d.The right cortical microvascular ultrastructure was examined with transmission electron microscopy and cerebral vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) mRNA expression was detected by quantitative real-time PCR.Results The microvascular ultrastructure of the right cerebral cortex was severely injured in rats of the model group whereas greatly improved in rats of EA group.VEGF mRNA expression of the right cerebral cortex was increased significantly in the model group(P<0.05

P<0.01) and further upregulated in the EA group(P<0.01).Conclusion EA intervention can alleviate the injury of microvascular ultrastructure of focal ischemic cerebral tissue and upregulate cerebral VEGF mRNA expression

suggesting a role of EA in protecting the ischemic brain tissues by facilitating the angiogenesis of capillary vessels and the function reconstruction of the damaged microvasculature.