Objective    To observe the effect of pretreatment with Ginseng and Prepared Aconite Injection on expressions of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in Kupfer cells (KCs) of rats after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury due to liver transplantation.     Methods    Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group

I/R group

and Ginseng and Prepared Aconite Injection group. An liver transplantation I/R injury model was established in 2 later groups. The injection at 2 ml/100 g was given by tail vein to the donors of the Injection group 1 h before operation. Six hours after I/R injury

KCs were isolated from cultured blood of liver transplantation recipients. Expressions of GR mRNA and protein as well as NF-κB in KCs were detected

and TNF-α level in supernatant was measured by RT-PCR

Western blotting

laser confocal microscopy and ELISA

respectively.     Results    The expression level of GR mRNA and protein in KCs was significantly lower

while the expression level of NF-κB in KCs and the TNF-α level in supernatant were significantly higher in I/R group than in control group (TNF-α level: 830.19±71.34 vs 65.41±37.63

P0.01). The GR expression level

NF-κB activity

and TNF-α level in supernatant were significantly lower in Ginseng and Prepared Aconite Injection group than in I/R group (TNF-α level: 543.59±41.27 vs 830.19±71.34

P0.01).     Conclusion    I/R injury can down-regulate the expression of GR and the activation of NF-κB in KCs. Pretreatment with Ginseng and Prepared Aconite Injection can improve the activation of KC after I/R injury due to liver transplantation.