Abstract:Aim To investigate the mechanism of electroacupuncture(EA) effects on promoting revascularization in SD rats brain of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion by discussing the expression of placental growth factor(PLGF)/Flt-1 pathway after middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO). Methods The SD rats received filament occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 2 h.SD rats were randomly divided into control group,model group and EA group.The modle group and EA group were divided into three subgroups according to accepting reperfusion 1 d,3 d,7 d after 2 h ischemia.After 1 h of the reperfusion,EA was bilateral "Hegu"point in the EA group.Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of PLGF and Flt-1 protein in the cortical ischemic region.RT-PCR was used to detect the expressiom of PLGF and Flt-1 mRNA.Western blotting was employed to detect the expression of PLGF protein. Results Compared with the control group,the mRNA and protein expression of PLGF and Flt-1 in the cortical ischemic region of the model group and EA group were significantly increased(P><0.05).Compared with the model group,the mRNA and protein expression of PLGF and Flt-1 in the EA group were significantly increased(P><0.05). Conclusion EA may upregulate expression of PLGF,Flt-1 protein and PLGF,Flt-1 mRNA in the cortical ischemic region,and PLGF/Flt-1 may promote revascularization in the rats brain of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.