Objective: To observe regulative action of electroacupuncture （EA） on learning and memory and the producing system of free radicals in the rat of experimental vascular dementia （VD）. Methods: In the 4-VO model rat of vascular dementia （VD）

learning and memory were detected by morris’s water maze

and nitric oxide （NO）

malondiadehyde （MDA） contents

nitric oxide synthase （NOS ）

superoxide dismulase （SOD ） and glutathione peroxidase （GSH -Px） activities in the brain were determined. Results: The model rat had obvious learning and memory disorder

and had significantly longer escape latency in the orientation navigation experiment as compared with that of false operation group; and the running over platform times in the original platform quadrant were not significantly higher than other 3 quadrants in the space exploration test. While in the EA group

the escape latency was shortened; the runnig over platform times in the original platform quadrant were significantly more than other 3 quadraunts

with no significant difference to the false operation group. NOS activity

NO and MDA contents in the brain tissue in the model group increased significantly

SOD

GSH-Px activities decreased significantly with significantly differences as compared with that of the false operation group

EA group and Nimotop group （P<0. 05 or P< 0. 01）. It is indicated that NO

MDA contents and NOS activity decrease in the EA group and the Nimotop group

and SOD and GSH-Px activities increase in varying degrees in the brain tissue. Conclusion: EA can regulate the balance of production and elimination of free radicals

and can relieve lesion of nervous cells of the brain due to ischemia

so as to improve learning and memory in the rat of VD.