The effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) afte
r cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) was investigated in rats. The dye Eva
ns Blue (EB) was used as a tracer for assessing the disruption of BBB. Fluo
rescence quantification of EB was performed to explore the temporal pattern
of permeability of BBB after the cerebral I-R with a fluorescence spectrop
hotometer (HITACHI 650-60). Furthermore, the morphology of BBB opening was
detected under confocal laser scanning microscopy system. It was found that
the BBB opening after cerebral I-R was biphasic. A rare scattered extravas
ation of EB was detected 2 hours after cerebral I-R. The EB extravasation r
eached its first peak at 6 h then decreased at 24 h and increased again at
the time-point of 48h after cerebral I-R. EA can attenuate the disruption o
f BBB after cerebral I-R. EA could not only limit the area of extravasation
of EB, but also reduce the concentration of extravasation of EB in the rat
brain after cerebral I-R. The results indicated that one of the mechanisms
of curative effect of EA on the cerebral ischemia might be due to its func
tion of protecting the integrity of BBB.