Objective    To assess the protective effect of remifentanil on cultured human hepatocytes against anoxia-reoxygenation injury.     Methods    Cultured hepatocytes were divided into 5 groups: group C receiving normoxia as control; groups AR

R

CH

R+CH receiving 15-hour xypoxia followed by 5-hour reoxygenation (group R receiving 5 ng/ml remifentanil

group CH 10 μmol/L chelerythrine

group R+CH 5 ng/ml remifentanil and 10 μmol/L chelerythrine before reoxygenation). The content of MDA in the hepatocyte mitochondria were measured. The rate of apoptotic cells was measured by flow cytometry. The expression of protein kinase C mRNA was measured by RT-PCR.     Results    Anoxia-reoxygenation caused dramatic increase in the content of MDA

the rate of apoptotic cells and the expression of protein kinase C mRNA. The three indexes mentioned above of groups R and CH were between that of groups C and AR (P0.05). The expression of protein kinase C mRNA in group R+CH was less than that in group C (P0.05).     Conclusion    Remifentanil can protect cultured hepatocytes against anoxia-reoxygenation injury

and its mechanism may be associated with protein kinase C mRNA.