Abstract: Objective：To investigate whether small direct-current electrical stimulation could improve migration and invasion of trophoblast cells (HTR-8/SVneo) under hypoxic condition by mediating focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signal pathway activation. Methods：Trophoblast cell migration under hypoxic condition was analyzed by wound healing assay. The phosphorylations of FAK at Tyr397, p-FAK, pY576/577 and paxillin, their downstream protein, in trophoblast cells were assessed by western blot. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression in trophoblast cells were analyzed in 5 and 10 hours after electrical stimulation. The cell behavior and MMP-2 expression of trophoblast cells were examined after treatment of FAK inhibitor PF-573228 at the concentration of 2, 5 and 10 μmol/L, respectively. Results：Electrical stimulation could improve trophoblast cell migration and invasion under hypoxic condition. Compared with non-stimulated controls, phosphorylations of FAK at Tyr397 and the downstream paxillin in the electric stimulated trophoblast cells under hypoxic condition significantly increased (P<0.05). However, no significant change of FAK phosphorylation at pY576/577 site was observed. MMP-2 expression in the 5 and 10 hour electrical stimulated cells was significantly increased (P<0.05). The improved cell migration in response to electrical stimulation under hypoxic condition was inhibited after FAK inhibitor PF-573228 treatment and MMP-2 expression was decreased with increasing concentration of FAK inhibitor. Conclusion：The small direct electrical stimulation could improve trophoblast cell migration and invasion under hypoxic condition via activating FAK signaling pathway.