Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture on cystathionine gamma-lyase(CSE)and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the colonic tissues of rats and to explore its mechanism for recovering the function of interstitial cells of Cajal(ICCs)in rats after colonic anastomosis . Methods Thirty SD rats were randomized into normal control group, model group(receiving colonic anastomosis) and acupuncture group. The acupuncture group received foot three-needle therapy on bilateral Zusanli(ST36), Sanyinjiao(SP6) and Taichong(LR3), once a day for 3 days after colonic anastomosis. And then the propulsive rate of the small intestine was measured. The count of ICCs with positively expressive c-kit in rat colonic tissues was measured by immunohistochemistry, the activity of CSE was observed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the activity of MPO was tested by biochemical method. Results Compared with the normal control group, the small intestinal propulsive rate in the model group was decreased, the number of ICCs with positively expressive c-kit was reduced, while the activities of CSE and MPO were increased(P<0.05). The acupuncture group had higher intestinal propulsive rate, more ICCs with positively expressive c-kit, and lower CSE and MPO activities than the model group(P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture can promote the recovering of postoperative gastrointestinal function, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of CSE and MPO activities in the colonic tissues and to the restoration of ICCs function in the focus with positive c-kit.