Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of electrical stimulation in different acupoints on the expression of growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF) in spinal cord injured rats after the human umbilical cord blood stem cells transplantation.Methods 192 SD rats were injured at T_10-11 level with NYU, and divided randomly into groups: Group A received electric stimulation in the scalp of motor area (A1 group received electric stimulation and transplantation of umbilical cord blood stem cell, the rats of A2 group only received electric stimulation); group B received local electric stimulation at damaged site (B1 with electric stimulation and transplantation, B2 only with electric stimulation); group C received electric stimulation in the scalp of motor area and at damaged site (C1 with electric stimulation and transplantation, C2 only with electric stimulation); D1 received transplantation without electric stimulation, D2 neither with transplantation nor electric stimulation. The expression of GAP-43, bFGF and IGF were detected 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after operation. Results Electric stimulation increased the expression of GAP-43, bFGF, IGF, stimulating scalp and body were more than stimulated scalp or body alone, combined with the stem cells transplantation were more than no transplantation. Conclusion Both electric stimulation and stem cells transplantation can improve the microenvironment for neural recovery synergistically. Stimulating scalp and body is more effective than alone.

Key words: acupuncture, electric stimulation, stem cells transplantation, spinal cord injury, growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)