ObjectiveTo explore the effect of hypertonic saline (HTS) pretreatment on levels of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1(ET-1) and their correlation in hepatic ischemia reperfusion (HIR) injury in rats. MethodsThe HIR injury models were made by using Pringle, s maneuver in 45 healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, which were randomly divided into three groups (n=15):sham operation (SO) group, HIR group, and HTS group. The animals were killed at 1, 6, and 24 h after reperfusion. The levels of serum NO and ET-1 were measured respectively, the correlation between NO level and ET-1 level at 6 h after reperfusion was analyzed. ResultsAt the time points of 1 h, 6 h, and 24 h after reperfusion, the serum NO levels in the HTS group and HIR group were all significantly lower than those in the SO group (P < 0.01), but the serum ET-1 levels were all significantly higher than those in the so group (P < 0.01). The serum NO levels at the time points of 1 h, 6 h, and 24 h in the HTS group were significantly higher than those at the same time in the HIR group (P < 0.01), but the serum ET-1 levels in the HTS group were significantly lower than those in the HIR group (P < 0.01). At all the time points, every detected goal had more marked level at the time point of 6 h after reperfusion. The NO level was negatively correlated with the ET-1 level. ConclusionsHTS could change levels of serum NO and ET-1 after HIR injury, and which has a negative correlation. Its mechanism might probably stimulate serum NO level and reduce the ET-1 level through some way so as to enable both dynamic balance to the benign development direction and achieve a protective effect.