Abstract: Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture at Shenting (DU24) and Baihui (DU20) on learning and memory ability,as well as the finding of histopathology and the expression of mRNA of nuclear factor κB p65 (NF-κB-p65) and its inhibitor (IκB) in the hippocampus of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Methods 45 male Sprague-Dawley rats were were randomly diveded into sham control group (SC, n=15), ischemia control group (IC, n=15) and electroacupuncture group (EA, n=15). The latter 2 groups were modeled as focal cerebral I/R injury, and the EA group received electroacupuncture at Shenting (DU24) and Baihui (DU20) for 14 d. They were evaluated with the step down test, their hippocampus was observed under HE staining and the level of NF-κB-p65 and IκB mRNA was determined with RT-PCR 14 d after modeling. Results The frequence of shock was less, and the latency jumping down from the safe platform was longer in the EA group than in the IC group (P<0.001). The damage of the nerve cell and the expression of NF-κB-p65 mRNA significantly decreased and the expression of IκB mRNA increased in the EA group compared with those of IC group (P<0.001). Conclusion The inhibition of NF-kB-p65 might mediate the recovery of learning and memory impairment after electroacupuncture for cerebral ischemia.

Key words: cerebral ischemia, electroacupuncture, learning and memory, nuclear factor κB, inhibitor of nuclear factor κB