[Abasract]Objective:To study the effect of acupuncture on miR-301a-5p expression in the hippocampal tissue of the ischemic side of rats by preparing a rat cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury(CIRI)rat model.Methods:The mid-dle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R)rat model was established using the thread embolism method and treated with acupuncture as an intervention.The modified Garcia score was used to access neurologic function in rats,and TTC staining was used to measure cerebral infarct volume ratio.RT-qPCR was utilized to detect the expression of miR-301a-5p in the hippocampal region on the ischemic side.The target genes of miR-301a-5p were predicted using online databases such as TargetScan8.0,mi-RDB,and miRWalk.Gene Ontology(GO)analysis of the target genes was conducted via the DAVID database.Additionally,pathological changes in cells were observed using HE staining.Results:Compared with MCAO/R group,Garcia score of rats in MCAO/R+AC group was increased(P<0.05),and the infarct volume decreased(P<0.01).The expression of miR-301 a-5p in the ischemic hippocampus was significant-ly increased(P<0.01).Online database identified 101 intersecting target genes of miR-301a-5p.GO analysis in Biological Processes(BP)revealed that miR-301a-5p target genes were enriched in inflammatory factors,including interleukin-6(IL-6)regulation and glucocorticoid response.In the MCAO/R group,cell necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed,while scattered inflammatory cell infiltration was noted in the MCAO/R+AC group.Conclusion:Acupuncture alleviates neurological deficit symptoms and decreases cerebral infarction volume in CIRI rats,and the mechanism may be related to the activation of miR-301a-5p expression to suppress cellular inflammation.