Objective To investigate clinical significance of oxytocin receptor (OTR) expression in colon mucosa of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Methods Colonic mucosal samples from 27 IBS patients and 14 healthy subjects were collected. IBS patients were sub-grouped into IBS-D group and IBS-U group. Expression of OTR were measured by immunohistochemistry. Results There was no significant difference in age, sex, IBS-SSS score and psychological status between the two groups (P?>?0.05). OTR expression was significantly higher in IBS group than that in the normal control group. Expression of OTR was significantly altered in IBS-D group and IBS-U group. No obvious correlation between OTR expression and IBS-SSS score or psychological status was identified (P?>?0. 05). Conclusions Increase in OTR expression in IBS patients does not correlate with IBS severity or psychological status.