Objective Explore the effects of different electroacupuncture stimulation method on the morphology of microglia and neuronal apoptosis in stroke-induced rats. Methods The Longa suture method was used to establish a stroke model. Forty-eight successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: the model group, Yanglingquan + acupoint matching group, Guanyuan group, and Zhaohai+Shenmai group, with 12 mice in each group. An additional 12 mice were used as the sham operation group. In the Yanglingquan+acupoint matching, Guanyuan, and Zhaohai+Shenmai groups, acupuncture and electric acupuncture stimulation at the corresponding acupoints were performed. Seven days included one course of treatment and two courses of electric acupuncture stimulation. The effects of different electrical acupuncture stimulation method on the behavior, microglia, neuron morphology, neuronal apoptosis, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) expression, and cysteine levels in stroke rats were assessed. The influence of these treatments on aspartate proteolytic enzyme 1 ( caspase-1) and pro-caspase-1 protein levels was also observed. Results Morphological changes: The microglia in the model group exhibited obvious protrusions and increased activation, and the neurons were irregular in shape and lightly stained. However, the normal morphology of microglia and neurons in the Yanglingquan + acupoint matching, Guanyuan, and Zhaohai + Shenmai groups was recovered, and the activation state was reduced. Compared with the sham operation group, the Longa score, Iba1 / ED-1, number of TUNEL- positive cells, and protein levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, and pro-caspase-1 in the brain tissues of the model group were increased (P< 0. 05), and the number of Nissl bodies was decreased (P< 0. 05). Compared with the model group, the Longa score, Iba1 / ED-1, number of TUNEL-positive cells, and protein levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, and pro-caspase-1 in brain tissues of the Yanglingquan + acupoint matching, Guanyuan, and Zhaohai + Shenmai groups were decreased ( P< 0. 05), and the number of Nissl bodies was increased (P< 0. 05). Conclusions Electroacupuncture at Yanglingquan+ acupoint matching, Guanyuan, and Zhaohai+Shenmai can reduce the apoptosis of microglia and neurons in stroke-induced rats, which may be achieved by inhibiting the NLRP3 / caspase-1 pathway.