ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the visual system and the mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four rabbits were randomly divided into a "Hegu" (Ll 4) group and a "Taixi" (KI 3) group, 12 rabbits in each group. The rabbit model with separated monocular optic nerve was developed, cutting the link between the retina with the center, but do not injure the blood circulation in the retina. The effect of electroacupuncture on flicker vision evoked potential (FVEP) was investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>When the optic nerve was cut off, the distal fibers of descending regulating the retina were cut off, the FVEP of the operative eye extinguished. Elctroacupuncture at "Hegu" (LI 4) and "Taixi" (KI 3) at various stages have stronger inhibiting action on the latent time and amplitudes of N1, P1, N2 of FVEP, marked by prolongation of the latent time of peak, and obvious decrease of the amplitude. And this inhibiting action has difference of acupoints.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The distal fiber plays a certain role in the process of electroacupuncture influencing flicker electroretinogram (FERG) and FVEP, but the effect of acupuncture on FERG is induced through the distal fibers to influence the retina in a limited extent, but not through the central descending inhibition.</p>