Abstract: Abstract: Objective Through research of the expression of c-kit in interstitial cells of cajal(ICC) in colon of rat with visceral hypersensitivity, to investigate the role of ICC in the pathophysiology of visceral hypersensitivity.Methods 8 to 21 days after birth, the Wistar rats of the experimental group were injected with daily recta glacial acetic acid 0.6% 0.3~0.5ml, the control group were injected the same dose of saline. The visceral sensitivity of 8-week-old rats was evaluated by colorectal distention，and recorded the water injection rate when the score of abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) was 3.The distal descending colon was taken to detect for c-kit immunohistochemisty and Western blot.Result Compared with the control group, the water injection rate of the experimental group showed a significant decrease when the score of AWR was 3(P＜0.05);C-kit masculine cells counting in colon in the experimental group significantly increased(P＜0.05);The expression of c-kit protein in colon in the experimental group significantly increased(P＜0.01).Conclusion The increase of ICC of rat with visceral hypersensitivity may be a possible cause of visceral hypersensitivity.

Key words: visceral hypersensitivity, colon, interstitial cells of cajal, proto-oncogene protein c-kit