ObjectiveTo explore the effect of electroacupuncture at conception vessel and governor vessel on correlative signals of inflammatory response stress-injury-repair in cerebral ischemia reperfusion rats. MethodsA total of 216 rats were included in the experiment, of which 192 rats were randomly divided into four groups, including sham operation group (group A), model group (group B), governor vessel group (group C), and conception vessel and governor vessel group (group D), 48 rats in each group. The rats in each group were further divided into six sub-groups, including 12 h group, 24 h group, 48 h group, 72 h group, 96 h group and 144 h group. MCAO operation course was simulated in group A, and the common carotid artery, internal carotid artery and external carotid artery on the right side were exposed, without insertion of suture or treatment. After completion of modeling in group B, treatment was not conducted. After completion of modeling in group C, “Shuigōu (▪ GV 26)”, “Baihuì (▪ GV 20)” and “Dàzhuī (▪ GV 14)” of governor vessel were selected, and electroacupuncture device was connected with “GV 14” and “GV 20”. After completion of modeling in group D, “GV 26”, “GV 20” and “GV 14” of governor vessel, and “Qìhai (▪ CV 6)”, “Guānyuán (▪ CV 4)” and “Chéngjiāng (▪ CV 24)” of conception vessel were selected; electroacupuncture device was connected with “GV 14” and “GV 20”, “CV 4” and “CV 6”. Neurological severity score was conducted. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to determine the concentration of peripheral serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) of rats, and immunohistochemical method was adopted to detect the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in brain tissue of rats. The other 24 rats were also randomly divided into four groups mentioned above, 6 rats in each group, to detect cerebral ischemie volume. ResultsCompared with group B, the ischemia volume in brain tissue at 144 h after cerebral ischemia reperfusion decreased significantly in group C and group D (P<0.05), and the ischemia volume in group D was less than that in group C (P<0.05). The neurological impairment scores of group C and group D at all time points were lower than those of group B, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The scores of group D at all time points were lower than those of group C, and the differences since 24 h were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Compared with group B, the excessive expression of ACTH was suppressed dynamically and generally in group C and group D (P<0.05); the expression level of TNF-α was down-regulated and TGF-β1 was up-regulated as well in group C and group D (P<0.05). The effect in group D was superior to that in group C. ConclusionElectroacupuncture at conception vessel and governor vessel can protect brain through the intervention of the expression of correlative signals of inflammatory response stress-injury-repair of cerebral ischemia reperfusion.