Table 1 Characteristics of the included studies

1

Li et al., 2021 [26]

Chinese

Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of TCM

Wistar rat

Male

54

4–5 mo,

300-320 g

BCCA

NR

MA

GV20, ST36

14 d,

1 time

-

Non-intervention group;

sham-acupuncture group

NR

Hippocampus

ROS, MDA, SOD

①②

2

Wang et al., 2015 [34]

English

Vital River Laboratory Animal Technology Company

Wistar rat

Male

30

NR,

200-220 g

BCCA

NR

MA

GV20, ST36

14 d,

1 time

-

Non-intervention group;

sham-acupuncture group

NR

Hippocampus

ROS

①②③

3

Liu et al., 2004 [44]

Chinese

The 4th Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Academy of Military Medical Sciences

Wistar rat

Female/Male

29

10 mo,

340 ± 40 g

TM

NR

MA

RN17, RN12, RN6, SP10, ST36

21 d,

1 time

-

Non-intervention group;

sham-acupuncture group

NR

Hippocampus

MDA, SOD, GSH-Px, NO,

NOS

①②④⑤

4

Qiu et al., 2022 [32]

Chinese

Hunan Slack Jingda Experimental Animal Company

Sprague Dawley rat

Male

20

NR,

220-250 g

BCCA

NR

EA

GV20, GV14, BL23

28 d,

1 time

Sparse wave, 10-50HZ

Non-intervention group

NR

Hippocampus

ROS

①④⑤

5

Zhu et al., 2018 [24]

English

Vital River Laboratory Animal Technology Company

Wistar rat

Male

30

NR,

200-220 g

BCCA

NR

MA

GV20, ST36

28 d,

1 time

-

Non-intervention group;

sham-acupuncture group

NR

Hippocampus

ROS

①③④⑥

6

Li et al., 2016 [30]

English

Vital River Laboratory Animal Technology Company

Wistar rat

Male

42

NR, 270-320 g

BCCA

NR

MA

GV20, ST36

14 d,

1 time

-

Non-intervention group;

sham-acupuncture group

NR

Hippocampus

ROS

①②

7

Du et al., 2018 [33]

English

Vital River Laboratory Animal Technology Company

Wistar rat

Male

30

2.5 mo,

NR

BCCA

NR

MA

GV20, ST36

14 d,

1 time

-

Non-intervention group;

sham-acupuncture group

Y

Hippocampus

ROS, SOD

①②⑥

8

Yang et al., 2018 [25]

English

Vital River Laboratory Animal Technology Company

Wistar rat

Male

18

2 mo, 280-320 g

BCCA

NR

MA

GV20, ST36

14 d,

1 time

-

Non-intervention group;

sham-acupuncture group

NR

Hippocampus

ROS, SOD

①②③⑤

9

Hu et al., 2022 [31]

Chinese

Hunan Slack Jingda Experimental Animal Company

Sprague Dawley rat

Male

18

NR, 220-250 g

BICA

NR

EA

GV20, ST36

14 d,

1 time

Sparse wave, 1-2 Hz, 1.5 mA

Non-intervention group

NR

Hippocampus; serum

SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, MDA, ROS

①②④

10

Cheng et al., 2022 [35]

Chinese

Liaoning Changsheng Biotechnology Company., LTD

Sprague Dawley rat

Male

30

3 mo, 180 ± 20 g

BCCA

NR

EA

ST36, SP6

5 d,

1 time

NR

Non-intervention group;

sham-acupuncture group

NR

Hippocampus

ROS, SOD, MDA

①④

11

Song et al., 2018 [42]

Chinese

Shanghai Slack Laboratory Animal Company

Sprague Dawley rat

Female

20

11–15 mo, 370 g

BICOCA

NR

EA

RN4, SP6

20 d,

1 time

Continuous wave, 2 Hz

Non-intervention group

NR

Hippocampus

SOD, MDA

①

12

Li et al., 2017 [36]

Chinese

Laboratory Animal Center, Heilongjiang University of TCM

Sprague Dawley rat

Male

20

3 mo, 280-300 g

4-VO

NR

MA

GV20, GV24,

GV14, ST36

16 d,

1 time

-

Non-intervention group

NR

Hippocampus

SOD, MDA

①④

13

Zhang et al., 2014 [37]

English

NR

Wistar rat

Male

30

NR,

300-320 g

TM

NR

MA

CV17, CV12,

CV6, ST36, SP10

21 d,

1 time

-

Non-intervention group;

sham-acupuncture group

NR

Brain tissues

SOD, MDA

①②④

14

Liu et al., 2013 [38]

English

The 4th Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Academy of Military Medical Sciences

Wistar rat

Male

48

NR, 340 ± 40 g

TM

NR

MA

CV17, CV12, CV6, ST36, SP10

21 d,

1 time

-

Non-intervention group;

sham-acupuncture group

Y

Hippocampus

Ref-1

③⑤⑦

15

Ji et al., 2011 [45]

Chinese

Laboratory Animal Center, The Fourth Military Medical University of the People's Liberation Army

Sprague Dawley rat

Female/Male

20

NR, 220-260 g

4-VO

5 min for three times, each with an interval of 1 h

MA

GV20, RN17, RN6, BL17, SP6

30 d,

1 time

-

Non-intervention group;

sham-acupuncture group

NR

Hippocampus

SOD, MDA

①④

16

Liu et al., 2010 [39]

Chinese

NR

Wistar rat

Male

90

8 mo, 320-360 g

TM

NR

MA

RN17, RN12, RN6, SP10, ST36

21 d,

1 time

-

Non-intervention group;

sham-acupuncture

NR

Hippocampus

GSH, GSSG, Ref-1

①③⑤⑦

17

Yan et al., 2008 [48]

Chinese

Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of TCM

Sprague Dawley rat

Female/Male

25

NR, 180-220 g

4-VO

5 min for three times, each with an interval of 1 h

EA

GV20, BL17, BL20, BL23

15 d,

1 time

Continuous wave, 150 Hz

Non-intervention group;

drug group

NR

Brain tissues

NO

①④

18

Meng et al., 2007 [43]

Chinese

Laboratory Animal Center, Hubei University of TCM

Sprague Dawley rat

Male

67

NR, 200-250 g

MCA

1.5 h

EA

GV20, BL23, Hou San Li (posterolateral knee joint, about 5 mm below the small head of fibula)

15d,

1 time

Continuous wave, 2 Hz

Non-intervention group

NR

Hippocampus

NO,

NOS

①④⑤

19

Chen et al., 2006 [47]

Chinese

Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of TCM

Sprague Dawley rat

1/1

30

NR, 180-200 g

4-VO

5 min for three times, each with an interval of 1 h

EA

GV20, BL23, BL20

15 d,

1 time

Sparse wave,16 Hz

Non-intervention group; drug group

NR

Brain tissues

NO,

NOS

①④

20

Wang et al., 2006 [40]

Chinese

Shanghai Laboratory Animal Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Sprague Dawley rat

Male

26

NR,

180-200 g

BICA

20 min for two times, each with an interval of 10 min

EA

GV20, 1 point (0.2 cuns far from GV14)

30 d,

once 2 days

Sparse wave,15 Hz

Non-intervention group

NR

Brain tissues

NO,

SOD

①④

21

Wang et al., 2002 [48]

Chinese

Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of TCM

Sprague Dawley rat

Female/Male

40

2–3 mo, 200-250 g

4-VO

5 min for three times, each with an interval of 1 h

EA

GV20, GV14

30 d,

1 time

Continuous wave, 150 Hz, 0.2 mA

Non-intervention group; drug group

NR

Brain tissues

NO,

NOS, MDA, SOD, GSH-PX

①④

22

Lai et al., 2000 [41]

Chinese

Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of TCM

Sprague Dawley rat

Male

30

NR,

200-250 g

4-VO

5 min for three times, each with an interval of 1 h

EA

GV20, GV14

10 d,

1 time

Continuous wave, 150 Hz

Non-intervention group; drug group

NR

Brain tissues

MDA, SOD