Liang Chao, Jiang Tao, Wang Jingzhi , Zeng Xiaoling , Liu Jianmin , Zheng Zhaoliang 

(1. Haikou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Haikou, Hainan 570216, China; 2. School of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Hubei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430000, China)

Abstract: Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture at different frequencies on the neurological function and the expression of erythropoietin (EPO) in cerebral cortex of rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).  Methods:  SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, comfort acupuncture group, pretreatment group 1, pretreatment group  2,  pretreatment  group  3,  each  group  of  10;  pretreatment  of different  frequency electroacupuncture points prepared MCAO model. The neurological function was assessed by Longa criteria. The number of EPO  positive cells was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of EPO mRNA was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.  Results:①The neurological deficits of MCAO rats were significantly reduced after electroacupuncture at different frequencies, with the frequency of 2Hz / 100Hz being the most obvious (P <0.01).  ②The number of EPO positive cells in each pretreatment group was significantly different (P <0.05) (P <0.01). The pretreatment with electroacupuncture preconditioning increased the expression of EPO mRNA, and the expression of EPO mRNA at the frequency of 2 Hz / 100 Hz was the most significant (P <0.01) . Conclusion:  Electroacupuncture at different frequency points can attenuate neurological damage after focal cerebral ischemia, which may be related to the regulation of EPO protein and gene expression in ischemic cortex. Electroacupuncture at different frequencies has different  effects.  The  effects  of  electroacupuncture  at  2Hz  /  The  effect  of  100Hz  frequency electro-acupuncture is most significant.

Key words: MACO rats, electro-acupuncture frequency，  scalp points，  pretreatment，  EPO