Objective To evaluate the influence of the tissue specificity of the acupoints （different meridians, tissues and nerve segments） on the frequency, intensity and current flow output in association with electroacupuncture （EA） sensations. Methods Twenty one volunteers received EA. According to the tissue specificities of acupoints, 5 acupoint pairs were selected, named Zúsānlǐ （足三里 ST 36） vs Yánglíngquán （阳陵泉 GB 34, different meridians）, Nèiguān （内关 PC 6） vs Dàlíng （大陵 PC 7, different tissues）, Zúsānlǐ （足三里 ST 36） vs Shuǐdào （水道 ST 28, different nerve segments）, Guānyuán （关元 CV 4） vs Zhōngwǎn （中脘 CV 12, different nerve segments）, and Zúsānlǐ （足三里 ST 36） vs Guānyuán （关元 CV 4, different meridians, tissues and nerve segments）. The electric frequency was 15 Hz. The electric current was under the subject’s tolerance without sharp pain induced. EA lasted 90 s with 3 discontinuities. The sensations, such as soreness, numbness, fullness/distention, heaviness, tingling, pressure, dull pain, hotness and coldness were recorded as well as the current flow output in association with the needling sensations. The differences in the frequency, intensity and current flow output relevant with the needling sensations were compared among the different acupoint pairs. Results There were no significant differences in the frequency of the needling sensations among the different acupoint pairs （all P〉0.05）. Of 9 different sensations of EA, fullness/distention, numbness and soreness presented the most commonly and remarkably; heaviness, pressure and tingling were on the second top; dull pain, hotness and coldness occurred at the lower frequency. There were the differences in the intensity of some needling sensations among the acupoint pairs, in which, the intensity of soreness, fullness/distention and heaviness was stronger at Zúsānlǐ （足三里 ST 36） vs Shuǐdào （水道 ST 28） （all P〈0.05）; the
