Objective To observe the time-effect of acupuncture at"Taichong"（LR3） on the blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats（SHR）. Methods A total of 32 SHRs were randomly divided into a Taichong group

a non-acupoint group

a moxonidine group and a model group. Another 8 Wistarkyoto（WKY） rats were set as a normal group. The blood pressure values of the rats in each group were monitored first

then the Taichong group acupunctured Timeliness

the non-acupoint group had acupuncture at the hollow area between the third and fourth metatarsal bones

and the moxonidine group was intragastrically administered with moxonidine solution 0. 04 mg/（kg·d）

and the model group as well as the normal group were only treated by grasping. Each group was intervened for 7 days. After the first intervention

the blood pressure values at 30

60

and 90 min after intervention were monitored. After 7 days of intervention

the blood pressure values of each group were monitored at 24

48 and 72 hours after the treatment. Results Compared with the normal group at the same time

the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure of the model group were significantly increased（P < 0. 05）. Compared with the model group and the non-acupoint group

the systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased significantly at 30

60 min after the first intervention and 24

48

and 72 h after treatment cours in the Taichong group（P < 0. 05）

and systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in the moxonidine group were significantly decreased at 30

60

90 mins after the first intervention

24

48

and 72 h after treatment（P < 0. 05）. Compared with the Taichong group

systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure at 60 and 90 min after the first intervention and 48 and 72 h after the treatment were significantly decreased（P < 0. 05） in the moxonidine group. For the previous time point within the group

the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in the Taichong group were significantly decreased 30 min after the first intervention compared with the pre-intervention

and 24 h after the first intervention compared with 90 min after first intervention（P < 0. 05）

and the systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the moxonidine group were lowered significantly at 30 min after the first intervention than those before intervention

60 min after intervention than 30 min

24 h after treatment than 90 min after the first intervention（P < 0. 05）. Conclusion Acupuncture at "Taichong"（LR3） of SHR and oral moxonidine could effectively reduce the blood pressure of SHR rats

and acupuncture at"Tai Chong"and intragastrical administration of moxonidine have basically the same antihypertensive effect 30 minutes after the first intervention.