Objective To investigate the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) genetic polymorphisms in the 5 -hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and the variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs) in intron 2 among Chinese people, and their relationship to the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS);and to investigate the im-