Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of early acupuncture on the expression of neurofilament protein (NFP) in the brain and the neurobehavior of the neonatal rats with brain injury. Methods The pregnant Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group and control group, which were consecutively injected intraperitoneally with LPS or saline. The full-term newborn rats from LPS group were randomly divided into acupuncture group and model group. Acupuncture group was acupunctured from postnatal 8 d. They were evaluated with hanging test, and the expression of NFP was detected with immunohistochemical stain 21 d after birth. Results Both the scores of hanging test and the expression of NFP were the highest in the control group, the lowest in the model group and medium in the acupuncture group (P<0.01). Conclusion Acupuncture may increase the expression of NFP and improve locomotor function of the neonatal rats with brain injury caused by intrauterine infection.

Key words: intrauterine infection, brain injury, acupuncture, neurofilament protein (NFP), hanging test