Abstract: Objective To observe the efficacy of electroacupuncture at Baihui (GV20) and Shenting (GV24) on learning and memory in rats after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, and explore the possible mechanism.Methods A total of 45 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n=15), ischemia group (n=15) and electroacupuncture group (n=15). The left middle cerebral arteries of the latter two groups were occluded with the modified Longa's method for two hours and reperfused, and the electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shenting once a day for seven days, then. They were assessed with Longa's score one, three, five and seven days after intervention. They were tested with Morris water maze since four days after intervention, once a day for four days. The cerebral infarction volume was measured with TTC staining seven days after intervention, while the protein expression of Beclin-1 was detected with Western blotting.Results Longa's score improved in the electroacupuncture group compared with that in the ischemia group since three days after intervention (P<0.05). The escape latency decreased and the times cross the area of platform increased in the electroacupuncture group compared with that in the ischemia group at every point (P<0.05). The cerebral infarction volume reduced (F=7.651, P<0.001) and the expression of Beclin-1 decreased (P<0.05) in the electroacupuncture group compared with that in the ischemia group.Conclusion Electroacupuncture can improve learning and memory in rats after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, which may relate with regulation of autophagy network.

Key words: cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, electroacupuncture, learning and memory, autophagy, Beclin-1, rats