Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)combined with administration of Polysaccharide of Gastrodia elata Blume(PGB)on stem cell proliferation in the basolateral amygdala(BLA)of focal cerebral ischemia(FCI)rats.Methods A total of 40Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control

model

EA

PGB and EA+PGB groups(n=8rats in each group).The FCI model was established by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery.EA(2Hz

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

once daily for 14 successive days.Rats of the PGB and EA+PGB groups were given with PGB(100mg/kg)by gastrogavage

once daily

for14 successive days.The Zea-Longa's method was used to determine the animals' nerurological dysfunction score on day 1and 14.The expressions of Nestin and brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)of the right BLA were measured by immunohistochemical staining.Results Following modeling

the neurological score

and the numbers of Nestin-and BDNF-immunoreaction(IR)-positive cells were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the model group

the neurological scores were considerably decreased in the EA

PGB and EA+PGB groups(P<0.05)

and the numbers of Nestin-and BDNF-IR positive cells were further significantly increased in the 3treatment groups(P<0.05)

and the effect of EA+PGB was notably superior to that of simple EA and simple PGB in down-regulating neurological score and up-regulating Nestin and BDNF expression(P<0.05).Conclusion Both EA and PGB interventions can improve FCI rats' neurological function

which may be related to their effects in up-regulating the expression of Nestin and BDNF to promote the proliferation of neural stem cells in the BLA.