Table 1 Characteristics of the included studies

Bao 2014 [18]

SD Rats (12/12)

200 ± 20

NR

PTSD (CMS)

Electroacupuncture 20 min/d for 21d, continuous waves of 2Hz of frequency and current density of 2 mA (GV20, GV29).

Fluoxetine

1. escape latency

2. total swimming distance

1. P < 0.01

2. P < 0.01

Zeng 2008 [19]

Wistar Rats (10/10)

250 ± 10

NR

AD (D-gal, NaNO₂)

Electroacupuncture 20 min/d for 60d, disperse- dense waves of 80/100 Hz of frequency (LI4, LR3).

Donepezil

1. escape latency

1. P < 0.01

Chen 2015 [20]

SD Rats (13/14)

230 ± 20

NR

VD (4-VO)

Electroacupuncture 30 min/d for 7d, disperse- dense waves of 1/20 Hz of frequency (GV24, GV20).

NR

1. escape latency

2.total swimming distance

3. frequency of cross platform

1. P < 0.05

2. P < 0.05

3. P < 0.05

Chen 2006 [21]

Wistar Rats (34/34)

NR

New- born

HIBD (closed space)

Manual acupuncture 20 min/d for 10d (GV20, GV14).

NR

1. escape latency

2. percentage of time in target quadrant

3. percentage of swimming distance in target quadrant

1.P < 0.05

2. P < 0.05

3. P < 0.05

Dai 2015 [22]

AKR Rats (10/10)

24.0 ± 3.5

6

AD (SAMP8)

Manual acupuncture 10 min/d for 28d (GV20, SP10, BL17, BL23).

NR

1. escape latency

2. frequency of cross platform

3. time in target quadrant

1. P < 0.05

2. P < 0.05

3. P < 0.05

Hou 2013 [23]

SD Rats (10/10)

220 ± 20

NR

PTSD(SPS)

Electroacupuncture 30 min/d for 7d, continuous waves of 2Hz of frequency and current density of 1 mA (GV20, ST36).

NR

1. escape latency

1. P < 0.05

Gao 2012 [24]

SD Rats (16/16)

400–500

20–24

AD(aged rats)

Electroacupuncture 30 min/d for 21d, disperse- dense waves of 2/100 Hz of frequency and intensity of 2–4 V (GV20, KI1).

NR

1. swimming time

1. P < 0.05

Huang 2010 [25]

Wistar Rats (10/10)

200 ± 20

NR

PD (6-OH DA)

Electroacupuncture 30 min/d for 24d, continuous waves of 100Hz of frequency and current density of 0.5 mA (GV16,LR3).

Madopar

1. escape latency

1. P < 0.01

Ji 2011 [26]

SD Rats (10/10)

220–260

NR

VD (4-VO)

Manual acupuncture 30 min/d for 30d (GV20, CV17, CV6, BL17, SP6).

NR

1. escape latency

2. frequency of cross platform

1. P < 0.01

2. P < 0.01

Jia 2011 [27]

SD Rats (20/20)

220 ± 20

NR

VD (2-VO)

Electroacupuncture 20 min/d for 14d, continuous waves of 2Hz of frequency and intensity of 3 V (GV20, GV14).

NR

1. escape latency

2. frequency of cross platform

1. P < 0.05

2. P < 0.05

Wang 2012 [28]

Wistar Rats (10/10)

300 ± 10

NR

AD(STZ)

Electroacupuncture for 28d (GV20, GV14, ST36).

NR

1. escape latency

2. frequency of cross platform

3. time in target quadrant

1. P < 0.05

2. P < 0.05

3. P < 0.05

Lin 2008 [29]

SD Rats (10/10)

620 ± 80

12

VD (2-VO)

Electroacupuncture 20 min/d for 30d, continuous waves of 2Hz of frequency and current density of 1–2 mA (GV20, GV14,BL23).

Sham acupuncture

1. escape latency

2. time in target quadrant

1. P < 0.05

2. P < 0.05

Luo 2007 [30]

SD Rats (14/14)

200 ± 20

NR

VD (4-VO)

Electroacupuncture 20 min/d for 15d, continuous waves of 150Hz of frequency and current density of 1 mA (GV20, BL17, BL20, BL23).

Nimodipine

1. escape latency

1. P < 0.01

Ma 2009 [31]

Wistar Rats (13/13)

200–250

NR

Diabete (STZ)

Electroacupuncture 15 min/d for 14d, continuous waves of 0.5Hz of frequency and current density of 30 mA (GV20, GV14).

NR

1. escape latency

1. P < 0.05

Zhang 2014 [32]

AKR Rats (10/10)

NR

4

AD (SAMP8)

Manual acupuncture 30 min/d for 30d, twisting 10 s a time (GV20,ST36).

NR

1. escape latency

2. frequency of cross platform

3. time in target quadrant

1. P < 0.05

2. P < 0.05

3. P < 0.05

Niu 2009 [33]

SD Rats (10/10)

300 ± 20

NR

VD (4-VO)

Electroacupuncture 10 min/d for 42d, disperse- dense waves of 80/100 Hz of frequency and current density of 1–3 mA (GV29, LI20).

NR

1. escape latency

2. frequency of cross platform

1. P < 0.01

2. P < 0.01

Su 2013 [34]

SD Rats (12/12)

200–250

NR

AD(D-gal, Aβ1- 42)

Electroacupuncture 15 min/d for 28d, continuous waves of 35Hz of frequency and intensity of 2 V (GV20, KI3, ST36).

NR

1. escape latency

2. frequency of cross platform

3. time in target quadrant

1. P < 0.05

2. P < 0.05

3. P < 0.05

Tan 2014 [35]

Wistar Rats (8/8)

250 ± 50

2

VD (MCAO)

Electroacupuncture 15 min/d for 21d, continuous waves of 16Hz of frequency and current density of 1 mA (GV20, GV14).

NR

1. escape latency

2. frequency of cross platform

3. percentage of time in target quadrant

1. P < 0.05

2. P < 0.05

3. P < 0.05

Tang 2014 [36]

SD Rats (10/10)

160–200

3

OVX

Electroacupuncture 20 min/d for 45d, continuous waves of 3–4Hz of frequency and current density of 4–5 mA (ST36, BL23).

Sham acupuncture

1. escape latency

2. frequency of cross platform

1. P < 0.01

2. P < 0.01

Wang 2013 [37]

SD Rats (10/10)

200 ± 20

NR

AD (D-gal, NaNO₂)

Manual acupuncture 10 min/d for 30d (LI4, LR3, ST36).

Donepezil

1. escape latency

2. frequency of cross platform

1. P < 0.01

2. P < 0.01

Wang 2009 [38]

SD Rats (12/13)

240 ± 20

3

VD (2-VO)

Manual acupuncture 10 min/d for 30d (GV20, BL17, CV6, SP6, CV17).

Piracetam

1. escape latency

2. frequency of cross platform

1. P < 0.01

2. P < 0.05

Hong 2014 [39]

Wistar Rats (10/10)

300–350

NR

Autism (VPA)

Manual acupuncture 1 min/d for 30d (GV1).

Sham acupuncture

1. escape latency

2. average speed

1. P < 0.05

2. P < 0.05

Xu 2006 [40]

SD Rats (13/14)

200–220

2

VD (4-VO)

Electroacupuncture 20 min/d for 20d, continuous waves of 150Hz of frequency and current density of 20 mA (GV20, GV14).

Nimodipine

1. escape latency

2. frequency of cross platform

1. P < 0.01

2. P < 0.01

Xu 2007 [41]

SD Rats (8/10)

180–200

NR

AD (D-gal)

Electroacupuncture 20 min/d for 21d, continuous waves of 3Hz of frequency and current density of 1 mA (GV20, ST36).

NR

1. escape latency

2. percentage of swimming distance in target quadrant

3. percentage of time in target quadrant

1. P < 0.01

2. P < 0.01

3. P < 0.01

Yi 2014 [42]

SD Rats (12/12)

200 ± 34

4

AD (Aβ25–35)

Electroacupuncture 30 min/d for 12d, disperse- dense waves of 2/30 Hz of frequency and current density of 1 mA (GV29, LI20).

NR

1. escape latency

2. frequency of cross platform

3. time in target quadrant

1. P < 0.05

2. P < 0.05

3. P < 0.05

Yu 2014 [43]

Wistar Rats (10/10)

200–250

NR

WD (CuSO4)

Electroacupuncture 15 min/d for 7d, continuous waves of 2Hz of frequency and current density of 1 mA (HT7).

NR

1. escape latency

1. P < 0.01

Feng 2013 [44]

AKR Rats (10/9)

29–35

9

AD (SAMP8)

Manual acupuncture 20 min/d for 28d, twisting 2.5 times/s for 60 s(GV20, KI1).

NR

1. escape latency

2. frequency of cross platform

1. P < 0.05

2. P < 0.05

Li 2013 [45]

Wistar Rats (10/10)

200–250

4

AD(STZ)

Electroacupuncture for 28d, continuous waves of 30Hz of frequency and intensity of 2 V (BL23, KI3, ST36, GV20, GV14).

Donepezil

1. escape latency

2. frequency of cross platform

1. P < 0.05

2. P < 0.05

Wang 2013 [46]

AKR Rats (10/10)

NR

8

AD (SAMP8)

Manual acupuncture for 15d (CV17, CV12, CV6, SP10,ST36).

Sham acupuncture

1. escape latency

2. time in target quadrant

1. P < 0.01

2. P < 0.01

Zheng 2009 [47]

Wistar Rats (8/7)

212 ± 15

2

VD (2-VO)

Electroacupuncture for 28d, continuous waves of 2Hz of frequency (GV20, KI3).

NR

1. escape latency

1. P < 0.05

Li 2012 [48]

AKR Rats (15/15)

NR

7.5

AD (SAMP8)

Manual acupuncture for 15d, twisting 2 times/s for 30 s (CV17, CV12, CV6, SP10, ST36).

Sham acupuncture

1. escape latency

2. time in target quadrant

1. P < 0.05

2. P < 0.05

Li 2014 [49]

C57BL/6 Rats (6/6)

NR

2

AD (APP/PS1)

Electroacupuncture 30 min/d for 20d, disperse- dense waves of 2/15 Hz of frequency and current density of 1 mA (GV20).

NR

1. escape latency

1. P < 0.05

Lee 2014 [50]

SD Rats (7/7)

220–240

NR

AD(SCO)

Manual acupuncture for 15d (GV20).

Sham acupuncture

1. escape latency

2. swimming speed

3. percentages of time in a probe trial

1. P < 0.05

2. P < 0.05

3. P < 0.05

Zhu 2013 [51]

SD Rats (6/6)

432 ± 30

12

VD (2-VO)

Electroacupuncture 20 min/d for 30d, continuous waves of 4Hz of frequency and current density of 2 mA (GV20, GV14, BL23).

NR

1. escape latency

1. P < 0.05

Lu 2014 [52]

SD Rats (8/8)

200–250

NR

Ethanol

Electroacupuncture 20 min/d for 30d, continuous waves of 2Hz of frequency and current density of 1.5–2 mA (ST36).

Sham acupuncture

1. escape latency

2. time in target quadrant

1. P < 0.05

2. P < 0.05

Li 2012 [53]

SD Rats (10/10)

250 ± 30

3

VD (MCAO)

Electroacupuncture 30 min/d for 14d, disperse- dense waves of 2/30 Hz of frequency and current density of 2 mA (GV20, GV14).

NR

1. escape latency

1. P < 0.01

Guo 2015 [54]

SD Rats (10/10)

250–300

NR

AD (Aβ1–40)

Electroacupuncture 30 min/d for 24d, continuous waves of 20Hz of frequency and current density of less than 2 mA (GV20, BL23).

Sham acupuncture

1. escape latency

2. time in target quadrant

3. frequency of cross platform

1. P < 0.01

2. P < 0.01

3. P < 0.01

Jiang 2015 [55]

AKR Rats (10/10)

NR

7.5

AD (SAMP8)

Electroacupuncture for 14d, continuous waves of 2Hz of frequency,current density of 0.6 mA and intensity of 2 V (GV20,GV26, GV29).

NR

1. escape latency

2. percentages of time in target quadrant

1. P < 0.01

2. P < 0.01

Shao 2008 [56]

SD Rats (8/9)

180–220

NR

VD (4-VO)

Electroacupuncture 20 min/d for 15d, continuous waves of 150Hz of frequency and current density of 1–2 mA (GV20, BL17, BL20, BL23).

Nimodipine

1. escape latency

2. time in target quadrant

1. P < 0.01

2. P < 0.01

Liu 2013 [57]

SD Rats (12/12)

200 ± 20

NR

CFS

Manual acupuncture 20 min/d for 21d, twirling reinforcing (ST36).

NR

1. escape latency

2. frequency of cross platform

1. P < 0.05

2. P < 0.05

Li 2015 [58]

Wistar Rats (11/11)

320–360

NR

VD(micro- emboli)

Manual acupuncture for 12d, twisting 2 times/s for 30 s (ST36).

Sham acupuncture

1. escape latency

1. P < 0.01

Lu 2008 [59]

AKR Rats (12/12)

20 ± 2

8

AD (SAMP8)

Electroacupuncture 20 min/d for 7d, disperse- dense waves of 2/100 Hz of frequency and intensity of 2–4 V (GV20, KI1).

NR

1. escape latency

2. time in target quadrant

1. P < 0.05

2. P < 0.05