Objective To study the protecting effects and mechanism of betaine hydrochloride on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.Methods Fourty SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups(8 animals in each group):sham-operated control group(A),hepatic ischemia-reperfusion group(B),200 mg·kg-1 400 mg·kg-1 800 mg·kg-1 betaine hydrochloride+hepatic ischemia-reperfusion group(C、D、E).betaine hydrochloride was administered to animals byoral route in group C、D、E for 7 days before ischemia.A、B group was administered with NS.Made the animal model of part hepatic ischemia-reperfusion.Serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST)levels in the blood and themalondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD),protein content in hepatic tissue were determined after the liver had been reperfused for 24 hours;the hepatic tissue was examined under lightmicroscope and the cell apoptosis was demonstrated with flow cytometry.Results ALT,AST,MDA increased and SOD decreased significantly in B group when compared those in the A group(P<0.05),Hepatic apoptosis was significantly increased;ALT,AST,MDA decreased and SOD increased significantly in betaine hydrochloride 200 mg·kg-1(C)group when compared those in the B group(P<0.05).Hepatic apoptosis was significantly lower,The histologic changes of the liver tissue under lightmicroscope in the C group was more easer than in the I/R group(B).Conclusions Betaine hydrochloride has the ability to scavenge oxygen free radical(OFR),reduce lipid peroxidation and inhibition of apoptosis.So it can protect the rats liver damaged by ischemia-reperfusion. Objective To study the protecting effects and mechanism of betaine hydrochloride on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. Methods Fourty SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (8 animals in each group): sham-operated control group (A) reperfusion group (B), 200 mg · kg -1 400 mg · kg -1 800 mg · kg -1 betaine hydrochloride + hepatic ischemia-reperfusion group (C, D, E) .betaine hydrochloride was administered to animals byoral route in group B, was administered with NS. Made the animal model of part hepatic ischemia-reperfusion. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in the blood and themalondialdehyde ( MDA, superoxide dismutase (SOD), protein content in hepatic tissue were determined after the liver had been reperfused for 24 hours; the hepatic tissue was examined under light microscope and the cell apoptosis was demonstrated with flow cytometry. Results ALT, AST, MDA increased and SOD decreased signi ficantly in B group when compared those in the A group (P <0.05), Hepatic apoptosis was significantly increased; ALT, AST, MDA decreased and SOD increased significantly in betaine hydrochloride 200 mg · kg -1 (C) group when compared those in the B group (P <0.05) .Hepatic apoptosis was significantly lower, The histologic changes of the liver tissue under light microscope in the C group was more easer than in the I / R group (B). Conclusions Betaine hydrochloride has the ability to scavenge oxygen free radical (OFR), reduce lipid peroxidation and inhibition of apoptosis. It can protect the rats liver damaged by ischemia-reperfusion.