Objective To explore the pathomorphological changes of brain tissues of rats with ischemic-reperfusion damage and observe the effect of resuscitating acupuncture therapy on the brain tissues.Methods Totally 45 SD rats were randomized into normal group

model group

pseudo operation group

acupuncture group and non-point acupuncture group.The normal group had 5 rats in it and the rest 4 groups had 10 rats in each.Thread-blocking method was used to make the models of cerebral ischemic-reperfusion damage in the 4 groups.The acupuncture group was treated with resuscitating acupuncture therapy

the non-point acupuncture group with acupuncture at non-points and without manipulation of needles

the normal group

model group

and pseudo operation group was caught and released without any other treatment.The observation time point was at 6h and 24h after modeling for all the groups except the normal group.Pathomorphological changes of brain tissues on the ischemic side were observed with optical and electron microscopes.Results In the model group

there were pathomorphological changes of neuronal degeneration

necrosis and massive inflammatory cell infiltration;in the acupuncture group

pathomorphological changes were mild in each time point than those in the model group;in the non-point acupuncture group

pathomorphological changes were getting worse with the time going on

without much improvement as compared with the same time point in the model group.Conclusion Resuscitating acupuncture therapy could improve the pathological condition in different time phases of brain tissues with ischemic-reperfusion damage in rats

being significant in clinical treatment for cerebral ischemia.