Objective        To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on motor evoked potential (MEP) and expression of Nogo-A and Nogo receptor (NgR) in brain tissues of rats with focal cerebral ischemia

and to investigate the mechanism of EA in treatment of focal cerebral ischemia.       Methods        Thirty-six adult SD rats were divided into a normal group

a model group and an EA group. Rat models of middle cerebral artery occlusion were successfully established by improved Longa procedures in the model group and EA group. The rats of the normal group and model group were not given any treatment

while those of the EA group were given EA treatment on the 1st day after operation for 14 d. The latency of MEP was examined on the 1st day and 14th day after operation. HE staining and Nissl staining were used to observe the pathological changes of brain tissues

and immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of Nogo-A and NgR on the 14th day after operation.       Results        After 14 d

the latency of MEP N1 waves [(15.38±1.58)ms] and N2 waves [(33.60±3.58)ms] in the EA group was significantly shorter than that [N1 waves (21.28±4.0)ms and N2 waves (41.78±3.07)ms] in the model group (P0.01). There was significant difference in brain pathology between the model group and EA group. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting results indicated that the expression levels of Nogo-A and NgR in the EA group were significantly lower than those in the model group (P0.05

P0.01).       Conclusion        EA is an effective method to improve the neural pathways and cerebral histopathological status

decrease the expression of Nogo-A and NgR

and promote the recovery from neurological deficits after focal cerebral ischemia.