不同穴位皮部浅刺与常规针刺在fMRI脑功能成像中的差异

Few studies have examined the effects of different stimuli at a single acupoint using functional magnetic resonance imaging.The present study applied acupuncture at the Neiguan(PC 6),Waiguan(SJ 5),Zhigou(SJ 6) and Yanglingquan(GB 34) acupoints in healthy volunteers.fMRI was used to examine the activation of brain areas in response to different types of acupuncture(cutaneous or routine acupuncture) at each acupoint.There were no significant differences in the distribution of activation in the regions of interest between cutaneous and routine acupuncture at the Neiguan,Waiguan,and Zhigou acupoints,but some differences were observed between the two methods of acupuncture at the Yanglingquan acupoint.There were no significant differences in the intensity of induced activation between cutaneous and routine acupuncture at the Neiguan,Zhigou and Yanglingquan acupoints,but the activation intensity in the right cerebellum induced by routine acupuncture at the Waiguan acupoint was greater than that induced by cutaneous acupuncture.Results confirmed that cutaneous and routine acupuncture at the Neiguan,Waiguan,Zhigou and Yanglingquan acupoints activated different functional brain areas,and caused activation of different intensities in some areas.     

Effects of acupoint versus non-acupoint electroacupuncture on cerebral cortical neuronal Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 expression in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia

BACKGROUND： Several studies have demonstrated that electroacupuncture by acupoint selection can inhibit cerebral cortical neuronal apoptosis following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. OBJECTIVE： To validate the effects of electroacupuncture by acupoint selection on the expression level of cortical neuronal anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein and the apoptotic executive protein, caspase-3, in rat models of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： This randomized grouping, neural cell and molecular biology animal experiment was performed at the Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Laboratory Animal Center of Henan Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine between November 2006 and May 2007. MATERIALS： Atotal of 40 healthy male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly and evenly divided into four groups： sham-operated, model, electroacupuncture and non-aeupoint control. G6895 electro-acupuncture instruments were purchased from Shanghai Huayi Instrument Factory, China. Caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax kits were provided by Wuhan Boster Bioengineering Co., Ltd., China. METHODS： Middle cerebral artery occlusion was induced in the model, electroacupuncture and non-acupoint groups. In the electroacupuncture group, the acupoints Jianyu （LII5）, Waiguan （S J5）, Biguan （ST31）, and Zusanli （ST36） were given electroacupuncture. In the non-acupoint control group, at each time point （immediately after ischemia and after reperfusion, or 2 hours after reperfusion）, electroacupuncture was performed at the midpoints of Tianquan （PC2）-Quze （PC 3） line, Quze （PC 3）-Ximen （PC4） line, Zuwuli （LR10）-Yinbao （LR9） line, and Xiguan （LR7）-Zhongdu （LR6） line. Electroacupuncture parameters were set with a continuous wave with a frequency of 10 Hz, wave width 0.6 ms, voltage 1.5-3.0 V, and a duration of 10 minutes. The sham-operated and model groups received only animal fixation without electroacupuncture procedure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Five ra     

Electroacupuncture enhances cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation in young rat brains

To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on cell proliferation and differentiation in young rat hippocampus, postnatal day-14 rats were assigned randomly to control, ketamine anesthesia, nonacupoint, or acupoint electroacupuncture groups. Electroacupuncture was applied at bilateral acupoints (Quchi, Waiguan, Huantiao, and Zusanli) 30 min daily for 7 successive days. The proliferation and neuronal differentiation of proliferated surviving cells in the dentate gyrus were evaluated at 4 weeks after last stimulation. The stimulatory effect of electroacupuncture on cell proliferation had a long-lasting effect, as indicated by the increased phosphor-histone H3-positive cells. The number of proliferated and survival cells, indicated by BrdU labeling, was highest in the electroacupuncture group. The number of newly differentiated neurons, as indicated by BrdU/NeuN double labeling, was significantly higher in the electroacupuncture group than in any of the other groups. This finding provides a theoretical basis for the clinical application of acupuncture to cerebral injury rehabilitation in children.     

The existence of propagated sensation along the meridian proved by neuroelectrophysiology

Propagated sensation along the meridian can occur when acupoints are stimulated by acupuncture or electrical impulses. In this study, participants with notable propagated sensation along the me-ridian ...     

Needling at the Waiguan (SJ5) in healthy limbs deactivated functional brain areas in ischemic stroke patients A functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Deactivation is common in cerebral functional imaging. However, the physiological mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon remain poorly understood. The present study analyzed 12 ischemic stroke patients, who were randomly assigned to two groups: one group underwent sham needling and true needling at the Waiguan (SJ 5) in the healthy upper limb and the other group underwent sham and true needling at a sham point. Functional magnetic resonance imaging results showed no activation points in brain tissues fo...     

针刺外关穴的脑区激活：功能磁共振成像证据

Objective: To observe the cerebral activation of needling Waiguan (SJ5) by fMRI with the controlled studies of sham needling and needling in a sham point. Methods: Eighteen volunteers were randomly divided into 3 groups of true needling in true acupoint Waiguan (SJ5)(group A), sham needling in true acupoint SJ5 (group B) and true needling in a sham point (group C). During the stimulation, each subject received fMRI functional cerebral imaging scan. The collected data were processed by SPM2. Results: Compared with sham needling, true needling in SJ5 could activate the areas of BA8 and left cerebellum; Compared with needling in the sham point, needling in SJ5 could activate the areas of BA2 and bilateral cerebellum. Conclusion: Needling in SJ5 acupoint activated different cerebral areas compared with sham needling in the same acupoint or true needling in a sham acupoint based on the scanning of fMRI cerebral functional imaging.     

Pretreatment of emulational manual acupuncture versus electroacupuncture against visceral traction pain in rats

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture and moxibustion against visceral noxious stimulation present different mechanisms in the peripheral and central nervous systems, involving release of neurotransmitter substance P, acetylcholine esterase, leucine-enkephalin, and c-Fos protein expression. However, there are few reports addressing changes in neurotransmitter expression following manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture against visceral traction pain.OBJECTIVE: To explore changes in neurotransmitter expression in the ileum and protein expression in the medullary visceral zone of visceral traction pain rats undergoing pretreatment of emulational manual acupuncture, and to investigate the differences between emulational manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The randomized, controlled study was performed at the Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China from August 2008 to July 2009.MATERIALS: G6805 electroacupuncture apparatus (Shanghai Medical Electronic Machine Factory, China) and ZSF-I acupuncture manipulation simulation therapeutic system (Chinese Medical Engineering Room, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai China) were used in the present study.METHODS: A total of 40 male Sprague Dawley rats were equally and randomly assigned to sham surgery, model, emulational manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture groups. In the emulational manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture groups, emulational manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture were applied at bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) acupoints for 30 minutes, and models of visceral traction pain were established immediately.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Substance P expression, c-Fos and glial fibrillary acidic protein expression were measured using immunohistochemistry. Acetylcholine esterase activity was examined utilizing a colorimetric method. Leucine-enkephalin content was detected using a radioimmune assay. Degree of pain in rats was assessed by pain score.RESULTS: Pain score, substance P expression in the ileum, acetylcholine esterase activity, expression of c-Fos protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein in the medullary visceral zone were significantly decreased following pretreatment of emulational manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture in rats with visceral traction pain (P＜0.05). Compared with the electroacupuncture group, the leucine-enkephalin content was significantly increased, and pain score was significantly diminished in the emulational manual acupuncture group (P＜0.05).CONCLUSION: Emulational manual acupuncture pretreatment decreases acetylcholine esterase activity, increases leucine-enkephalin release, downregulates expression of c-Fos protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein and ultimately inhibits visceral traction pain by reducing substance P release. The effectiveness in inhibiting visceral traction pain is greater when using emulational manual acupuncture compared with electroacupuncture. This is because emulational manual acupuncture effectively increases leucine-enkephalin release.     

Clinical effects of electroacupuncture stimulation on treatment of stroke-induced limb spasm

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the development of electroacupuncture stimulation in the treatment of stroke-induced limb spasm, to provide research possibilities or clinical development, and to clarify the mechanism and therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture stimulation. DATA SOURCES: Articles relating to therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture stimulation on treatment of stroke-induced limb spasm, as well as clinical studies (which are not limited to age, sex and race), were retrieved from the China Journal Fulltext Database from January 2000 to December 2007. The key words were stroke, apoplexy, spasm, and electroacupuncture in Chinese. Other articles were obtained from specific journals or books.STUDY SELECTION: Data were first selected by title and abstract. Clinical and rehabilitative studies relating to the effects of electroacupuncture and acupuncture on the treatment of stroke-induced limb spasm were included. Clinical studies related to the rehabilitative treatment of limb spasm were excluded, unless the effects of electroacupuncture stimulation were recorded. DATA EXTRACTION: A total of 338 references were collected; however, 295 of these were excluded. Therefore, 43 articles were analyzed, comprising 40 in Chinese and 3 in English.DATA SYNTHESIS: At present, acupuncture is widely used at home to treat stroke-induced limb spasm; however, acupuncture at different acupoints might cause different clinical effects. Electroacupuncture, which is characterized by analgesia and relief of spasm, can preclude inflammatory edema, improve blood circulation and blood viscosity, inhibit platelet aggregation and adherence, relieve formation of atheromatous plaque in tunica intima of artery, and resist cerebral anoxia, so as to relieve stroke-induced limb spasm. Meanwhile, electroacupuncture combined with rehabilitation can effectively decrease the degree of spasm and improve motor function. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy are superior in the rehabilitative treatment of stroke-induced limb spasm. Electroacupuncture is a convenient means to stimulate the acupoints. There are various ways to use this method, but it clearly has therapeutic effects, with few side effects. Electroacupuncture can effectively control limb spasms, while improving motor function and living ability.     

人股动脉血管的径向拉伸性能

OBJECTIVE： To summarize the development of electroacupuncture stimulation in the treatment of stroke-induced limb spasm, to provide research possibilities or clinical development, and to clarify the mechanism and therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture stimulation. DATA SOURCES： Articles relating to therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture stimulation on treatment of stroke-induced limb spasm, as well as clinical studies （which are not limited to age, sex and race）, were retrieved from the China Journal Fulltext Database from January 2000 to December 2007. The key words were stroke, apoplexy, spasm, and electroacupuncture in Chinese. Other articles were obtained from specific journals or books. STUDY SELECTION： Data were first selected by title and abstract. Clinical and rehabilitative studies relating to the effects of electroacupuncture and acupuncture on the treatment of stroke-induced limb spasm were included. Clinical studies related to the rehabilitative treatment of limb spasm were excluded, unless the effects of electroacupuncture stimulation were recorded. DATA EXTRACTION： A total of 338 references were collected; however, 295 of these were excluded. Therefore, 43 articles were analyzed, comprising 40 in Chinese and 3 in English. DATA SYNTHESIS： At present, acupuncture is widely used at home to treat stroke-induced limb spasm; however, acupuncture at different acupoints might cause different clinical effects. Electroacupuncture, which is characterized by analgesia and relief of spasm, can preclude inflammatory edema, improve blood circulation and blood viscosity, inhibit platelet aggregation and adherence, relieve formation of atheromatous plaque in tunica intima of artery, and resist cerebral anoxia, so as to relieve stroke-induced limb spasm. Meanwhile, electroacupuncture combined with rehabilitation can effectively decrease the degree of spasm and improve motor function. CONCLUSION： Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy are superior in the rehabilitative treatment of stroke-induced li     

3ontralateral needling at unblocked collaterals for ~emiplegia following acute ischemic stroke

Hemiplegia caused by stroke indicates dysfunction of the network between the brain and limbs, namely collateral shock in the brain. Contralateral needling is the insertion of needles into acupoints on the relative healthy side of the body to treat diseases such as apoplexy. However, there is little well-designed and controlled clinical evidence for this practice. This study investigated whether contralateral needling could treat hemiplegia after acute ischemic stroke in 106 randomly selected patients with acute ischemic stroke. These patients were randomly assigned to three groups： 45 in the contralateral needling group, receiving acupuncture on the unaffected limbs; 45 in the conven- tional acupuncture group, receiving acupuncture on the hemiplegic limbs; and 16 in the control group, receiving routine treatments without acupuncture. Acupuncture at acupoints Chize （LU5） in the upper limb and Jianliao （TEl4） in the lower limb was performed for 45 minutes daily for 30 consecutive days. The therapeutic effective rate, Neurological Deficit Score, Modified Barthel Index and FugI-Meyer Assessment were evaluated. The therapeutic effective rate of contralateral nee- dling was higher than that of conventional acupuncture （46.67% vs. 31.11%, P 〈 0.05）. The neuro- logical deficit score of contralateral needling was significantly decreased compared with conven- tional acupuncture （P 〈 0.01）. The Modified Barthel Index and FugI-Meyer Assessment score of contralateral needling increased more significantly than those of conventional acupuncture （both P 〈 0.01）. The present findings suggest that contralateral needling unblocks collaterals and might be more effective than conventional acupuncture in the treatment of hemiplegia following acute ischemic stroke.     

艾炷灸的抗衰老效应：氧自由基清除剂的补充手段

寻求氧自由基清除剂的补充手段是延缓脑衰老的首要方法。我们应用艾炷灸干预D-半乳糖致衰老小鼠的“足三里、悬钟”及“百会、关元”两组穴位,发现艾灸可提高衰老小鼠脑组织的总超氧化歧化酶和铜锌超氧化歧化酶的活性,改善大脑皮质和海马CA3区神经元的形态,提高大脑皮质神经元密度,以及及学习记忆能力,其作用效果与电针“足三里、悬钟”相当,但优于尼莫地平。     

Constraint-induced movement therapy promotes brain functional reorganization in stroke patients with hemiplegia

Stroke patients with hemiplegia exhibit flexor spasms in the upper limb and extensor spasms in the lower limb, and their movement patterns vary greatly. Constraint-induced movement therapy is an upper limb rehabilitation technique used in stroke patients with hemiplegia; however, studies of lower extremity rehabilitation are scarce. In this study, stroke patients with lower limb hemiplegia underwent conventional Bobath therapy for 4 weeks as baseline treatment, followed by constraint-induced movement therapy for an additional 4 weeks. The 10-m maximum walking speed and Berg balance scale scores significantly improved following treatment, and lower extremity motor function also improved. The results of functional MRI showed that constraint-induced movement therapy alleviates the reduction in cerebral functional activation in patients, which indicates activation of functional brain regions and a significant increase in cerebral blood perfusion. These results demonstrate that constraint-induced movement therapy promotes brain functional reorganization in stroke patients with lower limb hemiplegia.     

Recovery of proximal and distal arm weakness in the ipsilateral upper limb after stroke

Conservation of the ipsilateral upper limb function is important in stroke subjects with contralateral hemiplegia, because often it must serve as a compensatory tool for activities of daily livings (ADLs). However, the amount of functional loss and/or the recovery pattern of the ipsilateral upper limb are not well known. We plan to investigate how to measure the progress of the ipsilateral upper limb function after the onset of stroke. Once a week we used the Manual Function Test (MFT) to evaluate the ipsilateral upper limb weakness of 72 stroke subjects with contralateral hemiplegia until maximum recovery. Proximal and distal arm weaknesses in the ipsilateral upper limb were maximally recovered within one month following the onset of hemispheric stroke, but their weakness was not to be completely recovered. Also the amounts of their recoveries were different from each other. These results indicate that the ipsilateral upper limb weakness in stroke is not a temporary event and that motor function of the proximal and distal arm might be mediated by different neuronal circuits.     

A C-fiber reflex inhibition induced by electroacupuncture with different intensities applied at homotopic and heterotopic acupoints in rats selectively destructive effects on myelinated and unmyelinated afferent fibers

The aims of this study were to explore the C-fiber reflex inhibition induced by electroacupuncture with different intensities applied at homotopic or heterotopic acupoints, and to determine the influence selectively destroyed myelinated and unmyelinated afferent fibers on the C-fiber reflex inhibition. In the ipsilateral local acupoint, the general behavior of the C-fiber reflex can be depressed by electroacupuncture below the threshold of Adelta-fiber activation. Electroacupuncture stimulation within the intensity of Adelta-fiber activation applied to the ipsilateral limb pretreated with cobra venom did not elicit inhibition of C-fiber reflex in rats with demyelinated sciatic nerve. However, heterotopic electroacupuncture below the threshold of Adelta-fiber activation was totally ineffective. In contralateral heterotopic acupoints, the C-fiber reflex can be depressed only by electroacupuncture with stimulating intensities exceeding thresholds of Adelta and C-fiber activation. Electroacupuncture stimuli applied to capsaicin-pretreated limb in the intensities of threshold of Adelta-fiber and treble thresholds of C-fiber activation produced only a little inhibition of C-fiber reflex. Inhibitory intensity was roughly similar to that induced by the stimulation with intensity for the activation of Adelta-fiber in normal animal. In the spinalized animals transections at T6-T7 segments, regardless of intensities, the homotopic electroacupuncture stimulation only induced moderate depression of C-fiber reflex similar to that of Adelta-fiber activation; whereas, no matter what intensities of application, the inhibitory effects of C-fiber reflex disappeared totally by using heterotopic noxious electroacupuncture in these animals.     

Interventional effect of electroacupuncture combined with medicine on monoamine neurotransmitters in hypothalamus of rats with ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is conventionally treated with sulfasalazine and other aminosalicylic acids. The symptoms of UC can be rapidly controlled, but high recurrence, severe adverse reactions and other shortages exist commonly. Whether electroacupuncture combined with medicine can make up these shortages remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study was to observe the regulatory effect of electroacupuncture combined with medicine on monoamine neurotransmitter in hypothalamus of rats with ulcerative colitis, and to analyze the pathogenesis of UC and the action pathway of electroacupuncture combined with medicine. DESIGN: A randomized controlled observation. SETTING: Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian. MATERIALS: Thirty involved male SD rats of clean grade, weighing （200±20）g, were provided by the Experimental Animal Center, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Sulfasalazine was produced in the Shanghai Sanwei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd [certification No. (1995)002083]. METHODS: This study was carried out in the State Laboratory (grade 3) for Acupuncture and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian. The involved 30 rats were randomized into 5 groups: normal group, model group, electroacupuncture group, medicine group and electroacupuncture combined with medicine group, with 6 rats in each group. Rats in the latter 4 groups were prepared into models of UC. In the electroacupuncture group, Zusanli(shuang) point was selected. Electro-acupuncture apparatus (G6805Ⅱ type) was connected to the point and used to stimulate it with continuous wave, frequency of 2 Hz, electrical intensity 4 mA, 20 minutes a day, for 14 days successively. In the medicine group, rats were intragastrically administrated with sulfasalazine, twice a day, 3 mL once, for 14 days successively. In the electroacupuncture combined with medicine group, rats were treated with electroacupuncture and medicine simultaneously as described in the previous two groups. Rats in the model group and normal control group were untouched except for being fixed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The levels of noradrenaline acid tartrate (NE), 3-methoxy-4 hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), dopamine hydrochloride (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) hydrochloride, homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) of rats in each group were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-electrochemical method. RESULTS: All the 30 involved rats entered into the stage of final analysis. ①Detection of NE and MHPG levels: After treatment, NE level in the hypothalamus of rats was significantly higher in the electroacupuncture combined with medicine group, electroacupuncture group and medicine group was all significantly higher than that in the model group, respectively (P < 0.01). After treatment, MHPG level in the metabolite of NE was very significantly higher in the electroacupuncture group than in the medicine group (P < 0.01). ②Detection of DA and DOPAC levels: After treatment, DA level in the hypothalamus of rats was very significantly higher in the medicine group than in the model group (P < 0.01). ③Detection of 5-HT, HVA and 5-HIAA levels: After treatment, 5-HIAA level in the hypothalamus of rats was significantly higher in the medicine group than in the model group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The abnormal synthesis and metabolism of monoamine neurotransmitter in the central nervous system is one of pathogenesis of UC. Electroacupuncture combined with medicine might reach its goal of treatment by regulating the monoamine neurotransmitter disorder in the hypothalamus of rats with UC.     

Electroacupuncture regulates the stress-injury-repair chain of events after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Inflammation after stroke is the main cause of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Cascading events after injury can lead to cell death. Heat shock protein 70 and other endogenous injury-signaling molecules are released by damaged cells, which can lead to systemic stress reactions. Protecting the brain through repair begins with the stress-injury-repair signaling chain. This study aimed to verify whether acupuncture acts through this chain to facilitate effective treatment of ischemic stroke. Rat models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury were established by Zea Longa's method, and injury sites were identified by assessing neurological function, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Electroacupuncture at acupoints Baihui(DU20) and Zusanli(ST36) was performed in the model rats with dilatational waves, delivered for 20 minutes a day at 2–100 Hz and an amplitude of 2 m A. We analyzed the blood serum from the rats and found that inflammatory cytokines affected the levels of adrenotrophin and heat shock protein 70, each of which followed a similar bimodal curve. Specifically, electroacupuncture lowered the peak levels of adrenocorticotrophic hormone and heat shock protein 70. Thus, electroacupuncture was able to inhibit excessive stress, reduce inflammation, and promote the repair of neurons, which facilitated healing of ischemic stroke.     

基于功能性近红外光谱技术的卒中后上肢单侧任务与双侧任务的脑功能成像对比观察

目的 通过功能性近红外光谱技术(functional near-infrared spectroscopy,fNIRS)对比卒中患者执行单侧上肢训练任务与双侧上肢训练任务时近红外脑功能成像中氧合血红蛋白的浓度变化以及脑区的激活情况.方法 连续入组2021年1-4月在上海市3家康复医院接受康复治疗的单侧卒中患者,采用便携...     

Electroacupuncture pretreatment prevents cognitive impairment induced by limb ischemia–reperfusion via inhibition of microglial activation and attenuation of oxidative stress in rats

Limb ischemia–reperfusion (LI/R) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, critical trauma survivors can present cognitive impairment. Cognitive function, survival rate, oxidative stress and neuronal health were examined to elucidate (1) the magnitude of cognitive effects of prolonged reperfusion, (2) potential players in the mechanistic pathway mediating such effects, and (3) possible benefits of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment at Baihui (GV20), Yanglingquan (GB34), Taichong (LR3), Zusanli (ST36) and Xuehai (SP10) acupoints. LI/R was induced in rats by placing a rubber tourniquet on each hind limb for 3 h, and the animals were evaluated periodically for 7 d after LI/R. Rats subjected to LI/R had significantly lower survival rates, and displayed evidence of brain injury and cognitive dysfunction (as determined by the Morris water maze test) 1 d and 3 d after reperfusion compared to sham-operated controls. LI/R also resulted in higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), microglial activation, and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity within Cornu Ammonis area 1 (CA1) of the hippocampus. Depressed survival rates, microglial activation, oxidative damage, and histological changes, as well as cognitive dysfunction were partially or fully attenuated in rats that received 14 d of EA prior to LI/R. These findings indicate that LI/R can result in cognitive dysfunction related to activated microglia and elevated oxidative stress, and that EA has neuroprotective potential mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of microglial activation and attenuation of oxidative stress.