Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture on the infracted area and apoptosis of rats with brain contusion.Methods Feeney’s method was used to establish brain contusion model.The 40 rats were randomized into sham-operation

model

acupuncture and naloxone （NX） group with 10 in each.Acupuncture was performed for the rats of acupuncture group and NX was injected intraperitoneally for the rats of NX group.The treatment was done once everyday

7 days altogether.Then the brain histotomy was prepared after all the treatment finished.Computer image analysis system was used to detect the infracted area.TUNEL method was adopted to detect the apoptosis.Results The brain contusion in the model group was severe

there were lots of apoptotic cells and the infracted areas were bigger than the injured areas （P<0.01）.The infracted areas of the acupuncture and NX groups were obviously smaller than those of the model group （P<0.01） and smaller than the injured areas as well （P<0.01）;and the apoptotic cells of theses two treated groups were significantly less than those of the model group （P<0.01）.There was no significant difference in the infracted areas between acupuncture and NX groups （P>0.05）.Conclusion Acupuncture can decrease the infracted areas and apoptosis of the rats with brain contusion

being effective in anti-secondary brain injuries.