Excitatory amino acids toxicity is an onset causation of cerebral ischemia injury cascade reaction

and eventually leading to brain cell necrosis and apoptosis.Acupuncture is reported to be effective for ischemic stroke in clinical practice and animal experiments

but its mechanism is still under exploring.In this paper the authors introduce the research status of antiexcitatory amino acids toxicity effect of acupuncture in ischemic stroke animals by summarizing its effects on subunits of ionotropic glutamate receptor(NMDA/AMPA)and metabotropic glutamate receptors(mGluRs)

and on astrocyte activities.Results indicated that acupuncture intervention may down-regulate the expression levels of cerebral multi-types(NR 1

NR 2B)of glutamate NMDA receptors

up-regulate expression of glutamate transporter-1

NR 2A

cannabinoid receptor(CBR)type 1and 2

and suppress activities of cerebral astrocytes

reduce the content of extracellular glutamate to lower its toxicity and to improve stroke at last.The present paper may provide a reference for acupuncture research on ischemic brain injury.