Objective:This study aims to observe the effects of low-frequency electro-acupuncture(EA)auricular acupoint “stomach” on gastric antrum pathological morphology,interstitial cells of Cajal(ICC),and serum levels of ghrelin and vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP)in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Methods:Tweenty-four male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into model group,sham auricular acupuncture group and auricular acupuncture group,8 rats in each group. All of the rats were injected with STZ(55 mg/kg)to induce diabetic model,at the end of the 8th week after injection,animals received 2 weeks-treatment(20 min per time,5 days a week,10 times)respectively:model group(no stimulation),sham auricular acupuncture group(2 Hz EA on earlobes),auricular acupuncture group(2 Hz EA on ear point”stomach”). Serum level of Ghrelin and vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP) were detected before and after EA treatments. At the end point of the experiment,pathological morphology in antrum was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. C-Kit expression of ICCs in antrum were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Results:Serum level of ghrelin in auricular acupuncture group was increased after EA treatments(P<0.05). Compared to model group,serum level of ghrelin in auricular acupuncture group was significantly higher at the 10th week after STZ injection(P<0.05). C-Kit expression of ICCs in antrum of auricular acupuncture group was higher than that in model group and sham auricular acupuncture group(P<0.01). Conclusion:Low-frequency EA on ear “stomach” point can promote the repair of ICCs in diabetic rats,which may be related to up-regulation of serum ghrelin.