Abstract:Objective:To evaluate the role of oxygen free radicals in hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury(HIRI) and the influence of tiopronin.Methods:Using HIRI model in rabbits, the contents of SOD,MDA, ALT and AST were measured. The changes of hepatic histology were also examined. The role of prevention and treatment of tiopronin on HIRI was also observed.Results:The contents of SOD were significantly decreased( P <0.01), whereas the levels of MDA, ALT and AST were markedly increased( P <0.01) during HIRI. The morphological changes of hepatocytes were obvious after HIRI. After prevention and treatment with tiopronin, the variations of all the parameters were alleriated. Conclusion:Oxygen free radicals might participate in injury of HIRI. Tiopronin might alleviate the injury of HIRI by eliminating oxygen free radicals.