Inhibition of glutamate and acetylcholine release in behavioral improvement induced by electroacupuncture in parkinsonian rats

► Electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation improved motor impairment in parkinsonian rats. ► EA protected dopaminergic neurons but did not increase dopamine levels. ► Glutamate and acetylcholine levels decreased after EA stimulation. ► Glutamate and acetylcholine levels correlated with rotational behavior.