VEGFA and Cerebral ischemia: For example, EA at DU20 could mitigate brain edema and blood-brain barrier disruption caused by cerebral ischemia by reducing matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression and activity; it also ameliorated motor performance and sensory function and was coupled with increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in ischemic brain tissue and peri-ischemic regions [99].