To test the protective effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on gastrointestinal functions and its therapeutic effect in ameliorating gastric motor disorders under psychological stress. Ninety six male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly and evenly divided into control group

psychological stress (PS) group and EA plus PS group. Animal model of gastric motor disorder was established by lighting and electric shock stimulation. “Zusanli”(ST 36) was punctured and stimulated with electric current for 30 min

and the electrical activity of dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve(DMV) was recorded extracellularly with glass micro pippetes and EGG(Electro Gastro Graph) with the serosa method. The firing rates of DMV neurons in normal rats were lower and the EGG was regular in the amplitude and frequency. Under psychological stress

the spontaneous electrical activity of DMV neurons was irregular (increase in firing rate) and EGG had obvious abnormal changes in the amplitude and frequency. After EA of“Zusanli”(ST 36)

the stress induced changes (including neural electrical activity and EGG) turned to normal basically. It suggests that psychological stress may lead to gastric motor disorder

while EA of“Zusanli” possesses protective and regulative action on gastric functional activity.