Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture at Shuigou point,which intervention on cerebral infarction volume in stroke rats at different therapeutic time windows in early stage of ischemic stroke.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups（sham operation group,model group,5 min group,30 min group and 60 min group）.Rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion was made by suture method.The rats in the three electroacupuncture groups were treated with electroacupuncture at 5 min,30 min and 60 min after successful modeling.Every rat received electroacupuncture once every day at a fixed time（Frequency:30 Hz,intensity: 1-3 mA,duration: 30 min）.Eight rats in each group were taken for index observation,and the neurological deficit score（NDS）was evaluated after the rats woke up and before execution.The rats were over anesthetized 72 h after modeling and TTC staining was performed to calculate the infarct volume of rats before harvest.Results The neurobehavioral scores were significantly reduced in 30 min group（P< 0.05）.The cerebral infarction volume of the model group rats was significantly increased compared with the sham operation group（P < 0.01）.Compared with the model group,the volume of cerebral infarction in the three electroacupuncture group was significantly lower than that in the model group（P<0.01）.There was no difference in the cerebral infarction volume between three electroacupuncture groups（P > 0.05）.Conclusion Electroacupuncture in the early stage after ischemic stroke in rats could effectively reduce the volume of cerebral infarction in rats,and electroacupuncture at 30 min after stroke could effectively improve the neurological function of rats.