OBJECTIVE: To discuss the possible effect on cerebral amino acids and neurotransmitters in immature rats with cerebral palsy by using fire-needle.

METHODS: Cerebral palsy models were established in 45 Wistar rats aged 1 week by left common carotid artery ligation and randomly assigned into model, acupuncture and positive groups (n=15 per group). The other five rats were defined as controls, without any management. At 3 days, positive group rats were orally administrated with brain enzyme solution, and acupuncture group given fire-needle treatment at points of Neiguan (P 6), Yongquan (K 1), Quchi (LI 11) and Baihui (Du 20) for 21 days. Hanging test, inclined plane test and Y maze test were performed 1 hour after the last treatment, and the cerebral cortex and hippocampus were extracted and homogenized after execution. Lelves of acethl choline, norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, glutamic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid were recruited, and morphology of hippocampus was observed by pathological section. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Within 21-day treatment, positive and acupuncture treatment rats were more active than model group. Compared with the control group, the body mass in the model group was significantly decreased (P < 0.05); compared with the model group, the body mass in the positive and fire-needle groups were significantly increased (P < 0.05), while it showed no significant difference between latter two groups. (2) The hanging time of model group rats was significantly shorter than that of control group (P < 0.05), and significantly lengthened in the positive and fire-needle groups compared with the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control rats, the error numbers of model group rats were significantly increased (P < 0.05), and conversely, significantly decreased in the positive and fire-needle groups (P < 0.05). (3) In the model group, the levels of norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and γ-aminobutyric acid were significantly decreased, while glutamic acid significantly increased compared with the control group (P < 0.05); compare with the model group, the positive and fire-needle group rats held significantly increased levels of norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and γ-aminobutyric acid and decrease of glutamic acid (P < 0.05). (4) Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that in the mode group, there were abundant neurons damaged, cell volume reduced, nucleus pycnosis and unclear border with nucleus; both positive and fire-needle groups could improve neuron structure induced by cerebral ischemia. (5) In conclusion, fire-needle can treat cerebral palsy effectively.