Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of electroacupuncture at Quchi (LI11), Zusanli (ST36) on differentiation of neural stem cells after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats. Methods Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n=12), model group (n=12) and electroacupuncture group (n=12). The latter two groups were occluded the left middle cerebral arteries for 90 minutes and reperfused. The electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture at Quchi and Zusanli acupoints for 21 days. They were evaluated with modified Neurological Severity Scores 7, 14 and 21 days after electroacupuncture. Their infarct volumes were tested with MRI T2WI 21 days after electroacupuncture, while the differentiation of neural stem cells was observed with double-immunopositive BrdU/Dcx and BrdU/NeuN. Results Compared with the model group, the neurological deficits score improved in the electroacupuncture group in all the time points (P<0.05). The infarct volumes decreased in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05), with less number of BrdU+/Dcx+ cells in subventricular zone (P<0.001) and more number of BrdU+/NeuN+ cells in peri- infarct cortex (P<0.001) 21 days after electroacupuncture. Conclusion Electroacupuncture at Quchi and Zusanli acupoints can improve neurological function and decrease the infarct volumes in rats after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, which may be associated with promoting differentiation of neural stem cells to neurons.

Key words: cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, electroacupuncture, neural stem cell, differentiation, rats