Objective      To determine the expression of endothelial VE-cadherin in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells in Wistar rats after lung impact injury for the alteration of pulmonary microvascular permeability.       Methods      The alteration of the microvascular permeability after blunt chest trauma (BCT) was examined by fluorescein sodium (FINa) method and by detecting the dynamic expression of endothelial VE-cadherin in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells.       Results      The content of FINa was significantly higher in the right lung (the impact) than before injury (

P

0.01)

was higher at every time point after impact when compared with the normal control (

P

0.01)

and also higher in the group of glottis closure than in the open one (

P

0.01). The expression of VE-cadherin in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells was decreased after chest impact injury

with significant difference compared with the control group (

P

0.01).       Conclusion      Closed glottis results in high microvascular permeability in the lung tissue than opened glottis in rats after blunt chest trauma. The decreased expression of VE-cadherin in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells further leads the loosed conjunctions between endothelial cells and subsequent increase of permeability.