〔Abstract〕 Objective To investigate the effects of electro-acupuncture on learning and memory and Bcl-2/Bax expression in hippocampal CA1 region of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)-like rats. Methods Forty-eight healthy and clean male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group, model group, electro-acupuncture group and electro-acupuncture control group, 12 rats in each group. The PTSD model of rats was established by the internationally recognized single prolonged stress( SPS) method. After 6 h of modeling,the rats in the electro-acupuncture group and electro-acupuncture control group were given acupuncture treatment. The open field test and Morris water maze were used to test the emotional arousal level and learning and memory ability of rats. The morphological changes of hippocampal CA1 region were observed by HE staining. Then the expression of Bcl-2/Bax protein in hippocampal CA1 region was detected by Western blot. Results Compared with the model group,the standing and crossing times of the control group and the electro-acupuncture group increased,the average incubation period and crossing latency shortened,the number of crossing times increased,and the difference was statistically significant( P<0. 05). The results of HE staining showed that compared with the control group,the hippocampal neurons in CA1 area of the model group were disorderly arranged and had an unusual structure,and the hippocampal neurons in CA1 area of the electro-acupuncture group were arranged in order and the structure tended to be normal. Compared with the control group,the expression of Bcl-2/Bax protein in CA1 region of hippocampus in the model group increased,and the expression of Bcl-2/Bax protein in CA1 region of hippocampus in the electro-acupuncture group decreased compared with the model group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0. 05). Conclusion Electro-acupuncture can improve the learning and memory ability of PTSD-like rats,which may be related to the down-regulation of Bcl-2/Bax protein expression in CA1 region of hippocampus.