Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of injection of citicoline into Zusanli (ST36) acupoint on neural function and expression of growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) in rats with traumatic brain injury. Methods 40 healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham-operated group (group A, n=8), acupoint injection of citicoline group (group B, n=8), acupoint injection of saline group (group C, n=8), intraperitoneal injection of citicoline group (group D, n=8) and intraperitoneal injection of saline group (group E, n=8). Opened brain trauma was induced with the modified Feeney method in the groups B, C, D and E, and were treated as design, once a day for 14 days. They were assessed with nervous function score and open-field test before and 8, 14, 15, and 22 days after injury. The expression of GAP-43 in the brain were detected with immunohistochemistry 28 days after injury. Results The nervous function scores and open-field test scores improved more significantly in the group B than in the groups C, D and E (P<0.05). The expression of GAP-43 increased in the group B than in the groups C, D and E (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupoint injection of citicoline into Zusanli may improve the expressions of GAP-43 to promote the recovery of neural function in rats after traumatic brain injury.

Key words: Key words: traumatic brain injury, citicoline, acupoint injection, Zusanli (ST36), neural function, growth associated protein-43, rats