Objective To observe the effect of electro-acupuncture at Shangjuxu（ST 37） on interleukin-1 （IL-1β） and interleukin- 4 （IL-4） of ulcerative colitis（UC） rat models to study its functional mechanism.Methods The 40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups:normal group

model group

Shangjuxu（ST 37） group

non-aeupoint group

with 10 in each.The UC mod- els were made with trinitrobenzene sulphoneacid（TNBS） enema to observe the quantitative changes of IL-1βand IL-4 after electro- acupuncture at Shangjuxu（ST 37）.Results The electro-acupuncture at Shangjuxu（ST 37） made the quantity of IL-1βof colic tis- sues of UC rat models decreased obviously

the quantity of IL-4 increased obviously

compared with model and non-acupoint groups

the difference was significant（P<0.05 or P<0.01）.Conclusion The electro-acupuncture at Shangjuxu（ST 37） is effective for UC rat models

its functional mechanism may be involved in decreasing IL-1β

the inflammatory inducing factor

and increasing IL-4

the anti-inflammatory factor.