<p style="text-align: center;">ZHENG Guoqing, LI Huiqin</p><p style="text-align: center;">(1 Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children&#39;s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China. E-mail:gq_zheng@sohu.com)&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Abstract</strong>: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is one of the most devastating types of stroke.&nbsp; Here,&nbsp; we&nbsp; aim&nbsp; to&nbsp; demonstrate&nbsp; that&nbsp; electroacupuncture&nbsp; (EA)&nbsp; on&nbsp; Baihui&nbsp; (GV20)&nbsp; exerts neuroprotection for acute ICH possibly via the caveolin-1/matrix metalloproteinase/blood-brain barrier permeability pathway. Methods: The model of ICH was established by using collagenase VII.&nbsp; Rats&nbsp; were&nbsp; randomly&nbsp; divided&nbsp; into&nbsp; three&nbsp; groups:&nbsp; Sham-operation&nbsp; group,&nbsp; Sham electroacupuncture group, and electroacupuncture group. Each group was further divided into 4 subgroups according to the time points of 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, and 7 d after ICH. The methods were used including examination of neurological deficit scores according to Longa&#39;s scale, measurement of blood-brain barrier permeability through Evans Blue content, in situ immunofluorescent detection of caveolin-1 in brains, western blot analysis of caveolin-1 in brains, and in situ&nbsp; zymography for measuring&nbsp; matrix&nbsp; metalloproteinase&nbsp; (MMP)-2/9&nbsp; activity&nbsp; in&nbsp; brains.&nbsp; Results:&nbsp; (1)&nbsp; EA&nbsp; Improved Neurological Function:&nbsp; Compared with Sham-operation group, Sham EA group has significant differences at the time point of 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, and 7 d after ICH (P&nbsp; &lt; 0.05). Compared with Sham EA&nbsp; group,&nbsp; EA&nbsp; group&nbsp; has&nbsp; significant differences&nbsp; at&nbsp; 6 h,&nbsp; 1 d,&nbsp; 3 d,&nbsp; and&nbsp; 7 d after&nbsp; ICH (P&nbsp; &lt;&nbsp; 0.05). Compared with Sham-operation group, EA group has significant differences at 6 h, 1 d, and 3 d after ICH (P&nbsp; &lt; 0.05). (2) EA Reduced BBB Disruption:&nbsp; Compared with Sham-operation group, Sham EA group has significant differences at the time point of 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, and 7 d after ICH (P&lt; 0.05). Compared with Sham EA group, EA group has significant differences at 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, and 7 d&nbsp; after&nbsp; ICH&nbsp; (P&nbsp; &lt;&nbsp; 0.05).&nbsp; Compared&nbsp; with&nbsp; Sham-operation&nbsp; group,&nbsp; EA&nbsp; group&nbsp; has&nbsp; significant differences at 6 h and 1 d after ICH (P &lt; 0.05). (3) EA Downregulated the Expression of Cav-1 expression by using immunofluorescence and western blot: Compared with Sham-operation group, Sham EA group has significant differences at the time point of 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, and 7 d after ICH (P&lt; 0.05). Compared with Sham EA group, EA group has significant differences at 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, and 7 d&nbsp; after&nbsp; ICH&nbsp; (P&nbsp; &lt;&nbsp; 0.05).&nbsp; Compared&nbsp; with&nbsp; Sham-operation&nbsp; group,&nbsp; EA&nbsp; group&nbsp; has&nbsp; significant differences at 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, and 7 d after ICH (P &lt; 0.05). (4) EA Decreased the Activity of MMP-2/9&nbsp; detected&nbsp; by&nbsp; in&nbsp; situ&nbsp; zymography:&nbsp; Compared&nbsp; with&nbsp; Sham&nbsp; EA&nbsp; group,&nbsp; EA&nbsp; group&nbsp; and&nbsp; Shamoperation group both have significant differences at the time point of 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, and 7 d after ICH (P &lt; 0.05). Compared with Sham-operation group, EA group has differences at 1 d after ICH (P&nbsp; &lt;&nbsp; 0.05).&nbsp; Conclusion:&nbsp; the&nbsp; present&nbsp; results&nbsp; suggested&nbsp; that&nbsp; electroacupuncture&nbsp; on&nbsp; GV20&nbsp; can improve neurological deficit scores and reduce blood-brain barrier permeability after ICH, and the mechanism possiblytargets caveolin-1/matrix metalloproteinase/blood-brain barrier permeability pathway.</p><p><strong>Key words</strong>: Intracerebral Hemorrhage, Electroacupuncture, Baihui (GV20), Caveolin-1, matrix metalloproteinase-2/9</p><p><br/></p>