Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) intervention on expression of phosphorylated mitogen activated protein kinase-P 38(p-P 38 MAPK) protein and Interleukin 1β(IL-1β)mRNA in the frontal lobe and hippocampus in Alzheimer's disease(AD) rats so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of AD in clinic.Methods Thirty-two SD rats were equally and randomly divided into normal control(normal)

sham-operation(sham)

model and EA groups.AD model was established by microinjection of Aβ1-40(10 μg/μL

1 μL) into bilateral Meynert nucleus(AP:1.4 mm

L:3 mm

H:7 mm) and validated by water maze tests.Rats of the sham group were treated by microinjection of the same dose of normal saline into the bilateral Meynert Nucleus.EA(1 mA

2 Hz) was applied to bilateral "Baihui"(GV 20)

"Taixi"(KI 3) and "Zusanli"(ST 36) for 15 min

once daily for 12 sessions.Expression levels of p-P 38 MAPK protein and IL-1β mRNA in the hippocampus and frontal lobe tissues were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR

respectively.Results In comparison with the normal group

the expression levels of p-P 38 MAPK protein and IL-1β mRNA in the hippocampus and frontal lobe tissues were upregulated significantly in the model group(P<0.01).After 12 sessions of EA intervention

the expression levels of both p-P 38 MAPK protein and IL-1β mRNA were down-regulated significantly(P<0.01

P<0.05) in spite of being still higher than those of the normal group.No significant differences were found between the normal and sham groups in the expression levels of both p-P 38 MAPK protein and IL-1β mRNA(P>0.05).Conclusion EA intervention can reduce the over expression of both p-P 38 MAPK protein and IL-1β mRNA in the hippocampus and frontal cortex in AD rats

suggesting an improvement of AD after EA intervention by restraining the inflammatory reaction.