Objective        To determine the effect of stimulation of β-adrenoceptor by isoprenaline injection on acute liver injury in rats.       Methods        Effect of intraperitoneal injection of isoprenaline pretreatment to stimulate β-adrenoceptor at different doses (1

10 and 100 mg/kg)

and for different time periods after acute liver injury (24

48

72 and 96 h)

or of propranolol to inhibit β-adrenoceptor

was detected on the liver function index in blood serum and pathological examination.       Results        With the increase of isoprenaline dose

acute liver injury became more serious (ALT: control group 336.2±140.5 IU/L

1 mg/kg group 603.7±239.7 IU/L

10 mg/kg group 838.6±448.5 IU/L

100 mg/kg group 1571.5±714.7 IU/L

P0.05). Each index of liver function was statistically different between control group and stimulus group at 48 h after acute liver injury (ALT: 290.8±153.9

636.0±385.2 IU/L

P0.05; AST: 521.0±296.8

2 289.1±1 361.5 IU/L

P0.05; Alb: 28.3±1.3

25.2±1.5 g/L

P0.05; TBil: 4.1±1.2

24.8±16.9 μmol/L

P0.05). Meanwhile

propranolol inhibited β-adrenoceptor activation

and effectively prevented acute liver injury becoming more serious (ALT: stimulus group 606.0±154.9 IU/L

inhibition group 210.0±176.1 IU/L

P0.05).       Conclusion        Stimulation of β-adrenoceptor may effectively regulate the process of acute liver injury in rats.