Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture or moxibustion of "Zusanli"(ST36) and "Guanyuan"(CV4) on expression of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3(STAT3) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α) in colonic tissue in ulcerative colitis(UC) mice. Methods Thirty-two male Kunming mice were randomly divided into control

model

acupuncture and moxibustion groups(n=8 in each group). The UC model was induced by free drinking of 3% Dextran Sodium Sulfate for 7 days. Acupuncture or moxibustion was applied to ST36 or CV4 for 15 min

once daily for 5 days. The severity of UC was monitored using the disease activity index(DAI) which includes evaluation of weight loss

stool consistency

and presence of fecal blood. Histopathological changes of the colon mucosa were observed by H.E. staining. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were employed to detect the expression of STAT3 and HIF-1α proteins in the colon mucosa tissue. Results After modeling

the DAI

immunoactivity and expression of STAT3 and HIF-1α in the colonic tissue were significantly increased in the model group relevant to the control group(P<0.01

P<0.05). Compared with the model group

the levels of DAI

STAT3 and HIF-1α considerably decreased in both acupuncture and moxibustion groups(P<0.05)

and without significant differences between the two intervention groups in the levels of DAI

STAT3 and HIF-1α after the intervention(P>0.05). H.E. staining of the colonic tissue showed damage and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the model group

and reduction of the submucosal edema and infiltrated inflammatory cells in the acupuncture and moxibustion groups. Conclusion Both acupuncture and moxibustion can improve UC in UC mice

which may be associated with its effects in down-regulating the expression of colonic STAT3 and HIF-1α proteins.