Both electroacupuncture and constraint-induced movement therapy have been reported to produce therapeutic effects on the recovery of ischemic stroke. The combined use of these two therapies is not rare clinically, although its effectiveness is not yet clear. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the combination of electroacupuncture and constraint-induced movement therapy in ischemic stroke rats, and to explore the potential molecular mechanisms. Ischemic stroke rat models were established by middle cerebral artery occlusion. Then, the rats were assigned to receive one of the following interventions: sole electroacupuncture, sole constraint-induced movement therapy, the combination of both therapies, and no treatment. Functional recovery was assessed with the beam balance test and rotarod test. The infarct volume of the brain and the expression of the molecules Nogo-A, P75^NTR, NGF, BDNF, and VEGF in the brain tissue were investigated. The results demonstrated that the combination of the two therapies significantly improved neurological functional recovery in ischemic stroke rats compared to each therapy alone (P < 0.01). We also observed a significant decrease in infarct volume in rats receiving the combined treatment. Nogo-A and P75^NTR were downregulated and NGF, BDNF, and VEGF were upregulated in the combined treatment rats compared to the control rats. In conclusion, the combination of electroacupuncture and constraint-induced movement therapy enhanced functional recovery after ischemic stroke in rats, and it is a promising treatment strategy in the rehabilitation of stroke. The anti-Nogo-A effect of electroacupuncture may explain its good compatibility with CIMT in ischemic stroke rats.

据报道，电针和约束诱导的运动疗法都对缺血性中风的恢复产生了治疗作用。这两种疗法的联合使用在临床上并不罕见，尽管其有效性尚不清楚。我们旨在评估电针联合约束诱导运动疗法对缺血性卒中大鼠的疗效，并探索潜在的分子机制。采用大脑中动脉闭塞法建立缺血性脑卒中大鼠模型。然后，将大鼠分配接受以下干预措施之一：单独的电针、单独的约束诱导运动疗法、两种疗法的组合以及不进行任何治疗。使用梁平衡测试和旋转棒测试评估功能恢复。^{研究了脑组织中的NTR}、NGF、BDNF和VEGF。结果表明，与单独使用每种疗法相比，两种疗法的组合显着改善了缺血性卒中大鼠的神经功能恢复（P  <0.01）。我们还观察到接受联合治疗的大鼠的梗死体积显着减少。Nogo-A 和 P75 ^NTR与对照大鼠相比，联合治疗大鼠中 NGF、BDNF 和 VEGF 表达下调，而 NGF、BDNF 和 VEGF 上调。综上所述，电针联合约束诱导运动疗法可促进大鼠缺血性脑卒中后功能恢复，是一种很有前景的脑卒中康复治疗策略。电针的抗 Nogo-A 作用可能解释了其与缺血性卒中大鼠 CIMT 的良好相容性。