Abstract：Objective：To study the effect and the possible mechanism of electroacupuncture at Zusanli point(ST 36) on tight junctions of enterocytes in rats with sepsis. Methods： A total of 60 SD rats were divided into the sham operation group，the model group and the electroacupuncture group according to the random number table method， with 20 rats in each group. The sham operation group was simply given abdominal opening and closing operation， and the model group and the electroacupuncture group were modeled by cecal ligation and puncture(CLP) method. After model establishment，the electroacupuncture group was given electroacupuncture at Zusanli point on both sides for three consecutive days. The general situation of rats and the survival rate at the third day after model establishment were observed. Three days after model establishment，eight surviving rats from each group were selected；the intestinal tissues were taken to observe ultrastructure of tight junction by electroscope； the protein and mRNA expressions of claudin- 3， zona occludens- 1(ZO- 1) and occludin were detected by western- blot and reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction(RT- PCR)； the concentration of tumor necrosis factor- α(TNF- α) and interleukin- 6(IL- 6) were detected by enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) method； the concentration of FITC- labeled dextran 40(FD- 40) and the levels of D- lactate were measured by blood drawing. Results： Three days after model establishment， the survival rate was 60% in the model group and 90% in the electroacupuncture group，and the one in the electroacupuncture group was significantly increased when compared with that in the model group(P＜0.05). The concentration of FD-40 in serum and TNF- α and IL- 6 in intestinal tissues， as well as the D- lactate level in the model group were increased when compared with those in the sham operation group(P＜0.05)，and the protein and mRNA expressions of claudin-3，ZO-1 and occludin in intestinal tissues were decreased(P＜0.05). The concentration of FD- 40 in serum and TNF- α and IL- 6 in intestinal tissues， as well as the D- lactate level in the electroacupuncture group were decreased when compared with those in the model group(P＜0.05)， and the protein and mRNA expressions of claudin-3，ZO-1 and occludin in intestinal tissues were increased(P＜ 0.05). Conclusion：Electroacupuncture at Zusanli point can significantly improve the pathological damage of tight junctions caused by sepsis，and up-regulate the protein and mRNA expressions of tight junctions，so as to reduce intestinal permeability， whose mechanism may be related to the inhibition of intestinal inflammatory factors.