Vitamin D deficiency has closely relationship with ulcerative colitis(UC).Acupuncture has significant effects on UC，and the mechanism of action has not yet been fully elucidated.Therefore，we are to observe the regulatory mechanism of acupuncture on UC rats from the perspective of vitamin D receptor(VDR)and the p53 signaling pathway related to VDR.Methods:The UC rat model was prepared with 3% DSS.The rats were randomly divided into a normal group，a model group，an electroacupuncture group，a medicine-separated moxibustion group and a vitamin D group.Electroacupuncture or medicine-separated moxibustion was used to intervene in bilateral Tianshu points for one week，and vitamin D was given for gavage for one week.The morphology of the rat colon mucosa was analyzed and scored.The expression of VDR protein and mRNA in the colon was detected by immunohistochemistry and QPCR，and the levels of p53，PUMA and Caspase-3 protein in the colon were detected by western blotting.Results:Compared with the normal group，the histopathological score of the model group was significantly increased，and the groups were significantly reduced after electroacupuncture，medicine-separated moxibustion，and VD intervention; compared with the normal group，the expression of VDR protein and mRNA in the model group was significantly reduced.The expression of p53，PUMA and Caspase-3 protein was significantly increased.Compared with the model group，the expression of VDR protein and mRNA in the electroacupuncture group，the medicine-separated moxibustion group and the vitamin D group were significantly increased，and the expression of p53，PUMA and Caspase-3 protein was significantly decreased.Conclusion:Electroacupuncture and medicine-separated moxibustion can significantly improve the inflammatory response of colonic mucosa in UC rats.This effect may be related to the regulation of VDR and downstream p53 signaling pathway by acupuncture.