\[Abstract\]ObjectiveTo study the protective effects of electroacupuncture of Zusanli acupuncture on rat hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury and the possible mechanism. MethodsForty male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (each group n=10):sham(A), ischemia/reperfusion(B), ischemia/reperfusion + non-electroacupunture(C), and ischemia/reperfusion + electroacupuncture of Zusanli acupuncture point(D). Animals in C and D groups received electroacupuncture of Zusanli acupuncture point (4 mA, 2/100 Hz) before ischemia for 45 min. Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (70%) was induced by blocking blood inflow of the left transverse lobe and middle lobe for 90 min, then reperfusion was allowed for 8 h; blood samples were obtained from the inferior vena cava for determination of serum ALT. Meanwhile, real-time PCR was used to examine the heptaic expression of TNF-α and IL-10. ResultsB, C, and D groups demonstrated significantly higher levels of serum ALT and hepatic TNF-α and IL-10 compared with A group(P<0.05), and the increase of ALT and TNF-α in D group was significantly lower than those in B and C group (P<0.05). Expression of IL-10 was not significantly different between the 3 groups (P>0.05). ConclusionElectroacupuncture of Zusanli acupuncture point can effectively protect against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury, which is possibly related to the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.