Ulcerative colitis is a major type of inflammatory bowel disease. Its pathogenesis and treatment have become a focus of concern because of the increasing number of patients in recent years. A model of ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate has attracted much attention because it is the most similar model to human ulcerative colitis. This paper reviews research progress in recent years, mechanism and influencing factors of dextran sodium sulfate- induced ulcerative colitis animal models.