Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of nitric oxide （NO） on the gene expression of hepatic TNF-α and IL-1β by crush injury of rat’s soft tissues. Methods Rats were randomly divided into sham group, crush group, crush+aminoguanidine （AG） group, and crush+L-arginine （L-Arg） group. Activities of ALT and AST as well as NO level in serum were measured. Gene expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β were detected with RT-PCR. Results Obvious increase in TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA expression was detected in the crush group compared with the sham group （P<0.05）. After pretreated L-Arg, expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA were markedly increased （P<0.05）. After pretreated AG, those indices obviously decreased （P<0.05）. Activities of ALT and AST enhanced and NO level increased in the crush group compared with the sham group （P<0.05）. Pretreatment with L-Arg or AG led to substantial increased or reduced activities of ALT and AST as well as NO levels, respectively. Conclusion Endogenous NO mediated TNF-α, IL-1β mRNA up expression in liver induced by increased production of NO after crush injury of rat’s soft tissues.

Key words: forensic pathology, crushing injury, nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, rats