AIM:To observe the effect of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway on diabetic ulcer.METHODS:Diabetic animal model was established in the female Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of low-dose streptozotocin fol-lowing high-fat diet feeding.A circular wound was made on the dorsum of the rats in both control group and diabetic group. The condition of wound healing was recorded and the structures of the wound tissues were observed by HE staining in the 2 groups at 3, 7 and 14 d after wounding.The expression ofβ-catenin, GSK-3βand Rspo-3 at mRNA and protein levels in the wound tissues was detected by RT-PCR and ELISA.RESULTS:In diabetic group, the wound healing rate was lower (P<0.05), and the inflammatory cells, fibroblast cells and new capillaries in the wound tissues were fewer than those in control group.The expression of β-catenin and Rspo-3 at mRNA and protein levels in the wound tissues in control group was significantly higher than those in diabetic group, and the expression of GSK-3βwas exactly the opposite (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:The down-regulation of Wnt/β-catenin probably resultes from the decreased level of Rspo-3, which may be one of the reasons for delaying the diabetic ulcer healing.