Objective To investigate the possible mechanism of electroacupuncture at Liangmen（ ST 21） and Zusanli（ ST 36） in the treatment of acute gastric mucosal injury by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy（1 H NMR）. Methods A total of 54 SD rats were randomly divided into normal group

model group and electroacupuncture group. Each group was divided into three subgroup treated for 1

4 and 7 days respectively

with 6 rats at each subgroup. Except for the normal group

the rat models of acute gastric mucosal injury were replicated by 75%ethanol. After successful modeling

the rats in the electroacupuncture group were fixed with the rat plates

and the electroacupuncture at "Liangmen"（ ST 21）（ negative polar） and "Zusanli"（ ST 36）（ positive polar） were performed 30 mins

once a day. Dilatational wave（ 4 Hz

50 Hz） was used. Rats in the normal group and the model group were fixed with a rat plate for 30 min once a day. The pathological morphology of gastric mucosa was observed by light microscopy after 1

4

and 7 days of intervention

and the serum1 H NMR spectra were detected. The pattern recognition method was used to analyze the differences of metabolite profiles under different intervention time. The orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis（ OPLS-DA） and independent sample t-test were used to screen the potential biometabolism markers at the level P < 0. 05. Results Pathological results showed that the surface of the gastric mucosa of the normal group was intact and no ulcerative damage was observed. After 1 and 4 days of intervention

the gastric mucosal epithelial structure was severely damaged

and capillary proliferation and hemorrhage occurred in the model group. The mucosal structure of the gastric mucosa in the electroacupuncture group was completely intact after 4 days of intervention

which was significantly improved compared with the model group. Serum metabolomics results showed that the normal group and the model group were separated from 6 metabolites: glycerol phosphate

glutamine

betaine

glucose

acetate and choline. Compared with the model group

choline

glycerophosphocholine

glucose

acetate

glutamine and betaine were increased in the electroacupuncture group after 1 day of intervention; After 4 days of intervention

choline

glucose

glutamine and glycine phosphorylcholine and acetate increased

and betaine

glycerol phosphate choline decreased; After 7 days of intervention

glycerophosphoryl choline decreased

glucose

acetate

glutamine and betaine increased

and choline did not change significantly. Conclusion Electroacupuncture at Liangmen（ ST 21） and Zusanli（ ST 36） can effectively alleviate the serum-related differential metabolites in rats with acute gastric mucosal injury and restore the stability of the corresponding metabolic pathway. The effect of electroacupuncture is best for 4 days

which may be one of the mechanisms of its reversal of gastric mucosal injury.