Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)of"Baihui"(GV 20)and"Zusanli"(ST 36)in combination with administration of polysaccharide of Gastrodia elata Blume(PGB)on the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus(PVN)of cerebral ischemia(CI)rats

so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of CI.Methods Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into five groups:normal control

model

EA

PGB

and EA+PGB(n=8/group).The cerebral ischemia model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery(MCAO).EA(2Hz

2V)was applied to"Baihui"(GV 20)and"Zusanli"(ST 36)for 30 min

once daily for 14 days.The rats of the PGB and PGB+EA groups were treated by intragastric gavage of PGB at a dose of 100mg/kg

once daily for 14 successive days.The expression of BDNF and VEGF in the PVN of hypothalamus was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results After MCAO

the BDNF and VEGF immunoreactions(IR)positive neuron numbers and expression level in the PVN of the hypothalamus were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.05)and were further up-regulated after administration of EA and PBG(P<0.05).The effects of EA+PGB were evidently superior to those of simple EA and simple PBG in up-regulating BDNF and VEGF IR-positive neuron numbers and expression levels in the PVN(P<0.05).Conclusion EA combined with PGB can up-regulate the expression of BDNF and VEGF in the PVN of hypothalamus in cerebral ischemia rats

which might contribute to its effect in improving cerebral ischemia.