CASP3 and brain infarction: In our evaluations, we observed that in the U0126 + EA group, administration of U0126 30 min prior to the onset of EA at acupoints fully eradicated the neuroprotective effects of EA at acupoints against cerebral infarction, neurological deficits, and caspase-3-dependent neuronal apoptosis after 3 d of reperfusion.