Abstract: AIM: To explore the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in rabbits and patients with hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) and the effects of L-Arginine (L-Arg) on the injury.METHODS: Changes of the several parameters and the effects of L-Arg were observed during HIRI in 20 rabbits and 18 patients who were scheduled for elective hepatic surgery.The parameters included TNF, alanine aminotrasferase (ALT) and changes of hepatocytes morphologically.RESULTS: TNF content and ALT activities increased (P<0.05 and P<0.01), and the abnormal changes of hepatocytes morphologically were obvious during HIRI.There was positive correlation between the changes of TNF and ALT (rabbits, r =0.912, P<0.01 and patients, r =0.535, P<0.01) during HIRI.With the treatment of L-Arg, the abnormal changes of all parameters as above and hepatocytes morphologically were all alleviated remarkably (P<0.05 and P<0.01).CONCLUSION: TNF may be one of the primary causes for HIRI, and L-Arg can alleviate HIRI by eliminating TNF.

Key words: hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury, tumor necrosis factor, L-arginine