Electroacupuncture improves neurological deficits and enhances proliferation and differentiation of endogenous nerve stem cells in rats with focal cerebral ischemia.

Objectives: This study was carried out to observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on neurological deficits, proliferation and differentiation of nerve stem cells (NSCs) in adult rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and to study its possible role in the treatment of cerebral ischemic injury.

Methods: A rat model of MCAO was established and interfered with EA. On days 4, 7, 14 and 21 after ischemic injury, neurological deficits were scored.