Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)on serum insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1)content and bone biomechanics in osteoporosis rats so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of postmenopausal osteoporosis(PMOP).Methods Forty female SD rats(4.5months old)were randomly divided into sham-operation(sham)

model

medication and EA groups(10rats/group).The rat's bilateral ovaries were removed to establish the PMOP model.For rats in the sham group

similar procedures were conducted except removing comparable weight of fat tissues around the ovaries.For rats in the EA group

"Guanyuan"(CV 4)was punctured with filiform needles and stimulated electrically(1mA

2Hz)for20min

once a day for 30days.For rats in the medication group

pentanoic acid estradiol(50μg/500g)was administrated by gavage.The serum IGF-1content was examined by ELISA and the bone biomechanics measured by three-point bending tests

respectively.Results Compared with the sham group

the serum IGF-1level

femoral maximum load and fracture load were significantly reduced in the model group(P<0.05

P<0.01).In comparison with the model group

these indexes were significantly increased in rats of the EA and medication groups(P<0.05

P<0.01)

but without significant difference between the EA and medication groups(P>0.05).Conclusion EA produces benefits on postmenopausal osteoporosis through increasing the serum IGF-1contents and bone strength.