Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of electroacupuncture or exercise preconditioning on neurological function after focal cerebral infarction in rats and the possible mechanism. MethodsA total of 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into model group (n=6), sham group (n=6), exercise preconditioning group (n=6) and electroacupuncture preconditioning group (n=6). The model group and the sham group did not accept any treatment, while the exercise preconditioning group and the electroacupuncture preconditioning group accepted treadmill training and electroacupuncture for two weeks, respectively. Their middle cerebral arteries were occluded with modified Longa's approach, except the sham group that was ligated the same arteries but did not result in infarction. They were evaluated with Neurologic Severity Scores (NSS) 24 hours after modeling, and the laminin expression in the ischemic area was detected with Western blotting. ResultsThere was no neurological deficit in the sham group. The NSS was lower in both preconditioning groups than in the model group (P<0.05), but was not significant different between preconditioning groups (P>0.05). The expression of laminin was the most in the sham group, and was more in both preconditioning groups than in the model group (P<0.05), but was not significant different between preconditioning groups (P>0.05). ConclusionPreconditioning with exercise or electroacupuncture can both reduce the neurological deficits in rats after focal cerebral infarction, which may associate with the protection of laminin from inhibition in early stage.

Key words: focal cerebral infarction, preconditioning, exercise, electroacupuncture, neurological function, laminin, rats