To observe the effect of electro-acupuncture on matrix metalloproteinase in degenerated cervical intervertebral disc rats.Methods:The rat model of cervical intervertebral disc degeneration was induced by unbalanced dynamic and static forces,then the rats were randomly allocated to model group,electro-acupuncture groupⅠ(acupoints Dazhu(BL 11) and Tianzhu(BL 10) were electro-acupunctured),and electro-acupuncture group Ⅱ(acupoints Dazhu (BL 11),Tianzhu(BL 10)and Shenshu(BL 23) were electro-acupunctured),with the normal rats as control.then the HE staining method was adopted to observe the morphological change of cervical intervertebral disc and the immunohistochemical staining method was used to detect the marx metalloproteinases-1(MMP-1) and matrix metalloproteinases-3(MMP-3) in cervical intervertebral disc.Results:The morphological observation showed that after electro-acupuncture treatment,the degrees of cervical intervertebral disc degeneration in electro-acupuncture groupⅠand electro-acupuncture group Ⅱ were alleviated,and the electro-acupuncture group Ⅱ was superior to electro-acupuncture group Ⅰ.The expressions of MMP-1 and MMP-3 in degenerated cervical intervertebral disc were increased(P＜0.01),and after electro-acupuncture treatment,the expressions of MMP-1 and MMP-3 in degenerated cervical intervertebral disc were decreased,especially the electro-acupuncture group Ⅱpresented the better effect as compared with electro-acupuncture group Ⅰ(P＜0.05).Conclusions:Electro-acupuncture at acupoints Dazhu (BL 11) and Tianzhu (BL 10) had a certain therapeutic effect on cervical intervertebral disc degeneration,and in combination with acupoint Shenshu(BL 23),this therapeutic effect could be enhanced,its action mechanism might be that electro-acupuncture can reduce the expressions of MMP-l and MMP-3 in degenerated cervical intervertebral disc,inhibit the degradation of matrix in intervertebral disc.so as to relieve cervical intervertebral disc degeneration.