Abstract： Acupuncture is a common therapy used in clinical practice to treat post-stroke depression,and its characteristics are remarkable efficacy and low adverse reactions.This article summarized the mechanisms of acupuncture in treating post-stroke depression in recent years,and founds that acupuncture had the following effects:(1)Regulating the levels of monoamine and amino acid neuro-transmitters.(2)Increasing the expression of nerve growth factor(NGF)and regulating the CREB/BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway to protect damaged neurons.(3)Regulating the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins to inhibit neuronal apoptosis.(4)Activating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway to reduce autophagy.(5)Regulating the expression of cannabinoid receptor 1(CB1R)to increase mitochondrial regeneration and increase reactive oxygen species(ROS),malonaldehyde(MDA),glutathione(GSH)to improve oxidative stress damage.(6)Regulating the expression of pro-inflammatory factors to inhibit the occurrence of inflammatory response.(7)Regulating the hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.(8)Regulating the intestinal flora and other pathways to exert anti-depressant effects.Research shows that acu-puncture therapy for post-stroke depression has the characteristics of multi-target and comprehensive regulation.This article aims to provide references for the basic research of acupuncture therapy for post-stroke depression.