Abstract:In order to investigate the effects of fasting and refeeding on digestive tract morphology in Eothenomys miletus from Hengduan Mountain region, weights and lengths of total digestive tract morphology including stomach, small intestine, large intestine and caecum, were measured from individuals fasting (12 h, 24 h, 36 h) and refeeding (12 h, 48 h, 7 d). The results shown that weight with contents of total digestive tract, weight with contents and weight without contents of stomach increased significantly under fasting acclimation, and all these values returned to the levels of control group after refeeding. Maximum weight of small intestine appeared in group fasting for 12 h, and minimal value shown in the refeeding 12 h group. The small intestine weight was back to the level of control group after refeeding 48 h. Any index of large intestine and caecum has no significant change in fasting and refeeding conditions. These results indicated that E. miletus might adjust the weight of digestive tract to maintain the normal physiological function in stressed condition, such as lack of food and starvation. The change pattern of digestive tract in E.miletus in fasting and refeeding condition was related to its survive in their environment, which food resource is varied. Our results suggest that the adjustments in capacity and size of the gastrointestinal tract play an important role in their digestive strategies in natural environment.