Objective: To investigate the changes of proton transportation across the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) and H+-ATPase of hepatocytes in endotoxic shock rats.Methods: Endotoxin from E.Coil of 5.0 mg/kg or saline of 1 ml/kg was injected into the femoral vein.The rats were sacrificed pre-injection and 1, 3, 5, 8 hours after injection, and plasma and liver tissue samples were collected respectively.The liver tissue samples were used for preparation of mitochondria and submitochondrial particles (SMPs).The proton-translocation of SMPs and H+-ATPase, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, membrane fluidities of different level of mitochondria membrane and plasma MDA content were assayed.Results: (1) Five hours after E.Coli.O111B4 injection, the maximum fluorescence quenching ACMA after adding ATP, nicotinamide adenin dinucleoacid hydrogen (NADH), and the succinate were significantly decreased (P<0.05).The time of maximum fluorescent quenching and the half time of fluorescent quenching were significantly prolonged (P<0.01), especially when NADH was used as a substrate.(2) The mitochondrial H+-ATPase activity was significantly increased at early stage of endotoxic shock (P<0.05), and significantly decreased at late stage of endotoxic shock (P<0.01).(3) The mitochondrial membrane bound PLA2 activity, plasmal and mitochondrial MDA content were significantly increased and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity of mitochondria decreased markedly in endotoxic shock rats (P<0.05).(4) The mitochondrial membrane fluidity of different lipid regions was decreased, especially in the head of phospholipid.Conclusions: Proton transportation across IMM and mitochondrial H+-ATPase activity are significantly decreased in endotoxic shock.