Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture（EA） at "Tianshu"（ST 25） and "Shangjuxu"（ST 37）on mental state

visceral sensitivity and protein expression of nerve growth factor（NGF）

tyrosine kinase receptor A（TrkA）and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1（TRPV1） of colonic tissue in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome（IBS-D） rats

and to explore its possible mechanism on treating IBS-D. Methods A total of 36 male SD rats of SPF grade were randomized into a blank group

a model group

an EA group and a western medication group

9 rats in each group. In the model group

the EA group and the western medication group

IBS-D model was established by enema of dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid（DNBS） combined with chronic restraint stress method. In the EA group

EA was applied at "Tianshu"（ST 25） and "Shangjuxu"（ST 37）

with disperse-dense wave

in frequency of 2 Hz/100 Hz

20 min each time

once a day for 7 days. In the western medication group

pinaverium bromide suspension was given by gavage(15 mg·kg

-1

·d

-1

) for 7 days. Before and after model establishment

and after intervention

the body mass

24 h food intake and fecal water content were observed

the visceral sensitivity was detected by abdominal withdrawal reflex（AWR）; after intervention

the mental state was evaluated by elevated plus maze（EPM） test

the protein expression of NGF

TrkA and TRPV1 was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot in the 4 groups. Results After model establishment

compared with the blank group

the body mass and 24 h food intake were decreased（P

<

0.05）

first systolic latency of AWR was shortened and number of contraction wave of AWR was increased（P

<

0.05）

and fecal water content was increased（P

<

0.05） in the model group

the EA group and the western medication group. After intervention

compared with the blank group

open arm residence time ratio（OT%） of EPM was decreased（P

<

0.05） and protein expression of NGF

TrkA

TRPV1 in colonic tissue was increased in the model group（P

<

0.05）; compared with the model group

the body mass and 24 h food intake were increased（P

<

0.05）

first systolic latency of AWR was lengthened and number of contraction wave of AWR was decreased（P

<

0.05）

the fecal water content was decreased（P

<

0.05）

OT% of EPM was increased（P

<

0.05）

and protein expression of NGF

TrkA

TRPV1 in colonic tissue was decreased（P

<

0.05） in the EA group and the western medication group. Conclusion Electroacupuncture at "Tianshu"（ST 25） and "Shangjuxu"（ST 37） can relieve the anxiety and depression-like behaviors in IBS-D rats

down-regulate the protein expression of NGF

TrkA

TRPV1 in colonic tissue

so as to reduce the visceral sensitivity and relieve symptoms.