ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)in improving the reconstruction of synapse after cerebral ischemia.Methods Forty-five Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups:sham-operated group,ischemia group and EA group.The number density(Nv)of synapses and the surface density(Sv)of synaptic joint band were observed 1 hour,1 day,3 days,1 week and 3 weeks after ischemia and EA, respectively.Heat-coagulation-induced occlusion of the middle cerebral artery was performed to establish the model of focal cerebral ischemia.EA group received EA on the acupoints of Baihui and Dazhui.The changes of synaptie structure,Nv and Sv as well as the influence of EA on the above indexes were observed in different time.Results There existed significant decrease of Nv and Sv 1 hour,1 day and 3 days after establishment of models in the isehemia group(P0.05).Conclusion EA can reduce the cerebral ischemic injury by increasing the synaptic amount and area in the cortex of rat model of cerebral isehemia at early stage,promoting the cerebral recovery after ischemia,which will provide substantial morphological basis for the improvement of synaptic reconstruction and recovery from cerebral isehemia by EA at different time after ischemic cerebral injury.