A total of 60 female Sprague-Dawley rats were included. According to the random number table, twelve were selected as the blank group, twelve as the sham operation group, and the remaining 36 were made neurogenic bladder models using modified T₁₀ spinal cord transection. After that, twelve of them were randomly selected as the model group and twelve were as the electroacupuncture group from the model rats that met the requirements. On the 19th day after modelling, Ciliao (BL32), Zhongji (RN3) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) were taken for electroacupuncture. After seven days of continuous treatment, urodynamic testing was performed, content of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and protein kinase A (PKA) in detrusor was determined by ELISA, and the level of phosphorylation of myosin light chain kinase (p-MLCK) of detrusor was determined by Western blotting.

Compared with the blank group and the sham operation group, the maximum bladder capacity and bladder compliance significantly reduced (P < 0.01), and the base pressure and leakage point pressure of bladder significantly increased (P < 0.01); the content of cAMP and PKA in detrusor reduced (P < 0.01), p-MLCK in detrusor reduced (P < 0.05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the maximum bladder capacity and bladder compliance increased (P < 0.01), the base pressure of the bladder and the pressure at the leak point decreased (P < 0.05); the contents of cAMP and PKA protein in detrusor increased (P < 0.05), the p-MLCK in detrusor increased (P < 0.05) in the electroacupuncture group.

Electroacupuncture at Ciliao, Zhongji and Sanyinjiao points could improve the bladder function of rats with detrusor hyperreflex after complete spinal cord injury, and its mechanism may be related to up-regulating the expression of cAMP and PKA, phosphorylating and inactivating p-MLCK, which promote relaxation of detrusor.