Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)of"Baihui"(GV 20)and"Zusanli"(ST 36)and EA plus polysaccharide of Gastrodia elata Blume(PGB)on neural stem cell(NSC)proliferation in cerebral ischemia(CI)rats

so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of CI.Methods A total of 40SD rats were randomly divided into normal control

CI model

EA

medication(PGB)and EA+medication groups(n=8in each group).The CI model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery(MCAO).Two weeks after modeling

rats of the medication and EA+medication groups were administrated with PGB(100mg/kg)once daily for 2successive weeks.EA(2Hz

3V)was applied to"Baihui"(GV 20)and left"Zusanli"(ST 36)for 30min

once daily for 2weeks.The expression of Nestin and stem cell factor(SCF)proteins in the dentate gyrus(DG)of hippocampus was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with the normal control group

the expression of Nestin and SCF proteins in the suprapyramidal blade(SPB)and infrapyramidal blade(IPB)of DG were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.05).After EA intervention

the expression levels of Nestin and SCF of SPB and IPB of DG were considerably further up-regulated in both EA group and EA+medication group(P<0.05)

and the effect of EA+medication group was significantly superior to that of simple EA group and medication group(P<0.05).Conclusion EA combined with PGB can significantly up-regulate the expression of Nestin and SCF in the hippocampal DG in CI rats

and its effects are apparently superior to those of simple EA or simple medication.It suggests that EA-induced proliferation of SCF may be one of the mechanisms underlying relieving CI.