Abstract: Objective To explore the role of hydrogen sulfide （H2S） in acute liver injury induced by crushing hind limbs of rats. Methods The rats were randomly divided into the following groups: control, crushing, H2S donor sodium hydrosulfide （NaHS） + crushing, H2S inhibitor propargylglycine （PAG） + crushing group. The acute liver injury model was established by crushing the hind limbs of rats with standard weight. Rats were sacrificed at 30 min and 120 min after the crush. The activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase （AST） and alanine aminotransferase （ALT） were measured by colorimetric method, and the content of H2S in plasma and the contents of malondialdehyde （MDA）, protein carbonyl, glutathione （GSH） in the liver and the activity of H2S generating enzyme （cystathionine γ-lyase, CSE） were determined by chemical method. The expression of CSE mRNA in liver was detected by RT-PCR. Results For crush injury group, the levels of AST and ALT in serum, MDA and protein carbonyl in liver increased. The levels of GSH, CSE, CSE mRNA in liver and H2S in serum decreased. The administration of NaHS before limbs crush could attenuate the changes of liver injury, but the pre-treatment with PAG could exacerbate the changes. Conclusion The decrease of H2S production could involve in mediating the acute liver injury induced by traumatic stress in rats.

Key words: forensic pathology, wounds and injuries, liver, stress, hydrogen sulfide, rats