Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of cluster scalp acupuncture on pathological changes and the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF) in rats after acute cerebral infarction.Methods30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group (group A), model group (group B) and cluster scalp acupuncture group (group C) with 10 animals in each group. Animal model was made by the middle cerebral artery occlusion. The pathological changes and the expression of NGF and TGF in the brain tissues of rats were tested.ResultsOn the 7th day after operation, brain tissue of infarction area in the group B indicated significantly edema, neural cells decreased. Compared with the group B, the edema in the group C decreased and neural cells increased. At the same time, there were a few NGF and TGF expressions in hippocampus andcortex areas of the group A and group B, and there was no difference between the two groups ( P>0.05); but compared with the group A and group B, NGF and TGF in the group C increased significantly ( P<0.05, P<0.01).ConclusionCluster scalp acupuncture therapy can decrease edema, increase neural cells in infarction areas, as well as induce the expression of NGF and TGF in cortex and hippocampus.

Key words: cerebral infarction, rats, cluster scalp acupuncture, nerve growth factor, transforming growth factor