【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the protective role of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH )in ischemic reperfusion injury of rat liver and its mechanism. Methods One hundred Male rats were randomly divided into two groups: the rhGH group and the control group. In the rhGH group, rhGH were injected （0.2U/100g weight） to rats seven days before the ischemic reperfusion injury, and in the control group, normal saline was injected instead. Serum levels of ALT， TNF-α and IL-1α were tested. Hepatic tissue was sectioned for to detect the level of EC and MDA, the expression of NF-κB and ICAM-1 mRNA on SEC. Ultrastructural characteristics histopathological characteristics were determined also. Results Serum levels of ALT, TNF-α, IL-1α and the contents of MDA in the control group were significantly higher than those in the rhGH group （P＜0.05）. Comparied with control group, rhGH also decreased NF-κB activation, and reduced the expression of ICAM-1 mRNA of SEC in the liver cells （P＜0.05）. Electronic microscopic revealed that the hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells and the hepatocellular mitochondria were injured in the control group. Pretreatment with the rhGH was able to significantly improved the pathological changes. Conclusion rhGH might confer the protection to ischemic reperfusion injury of rat liver through reducing the expression of NF-κB to down-regulate cytokine (IL-1α,TNF-α), MDA and inhibition the expression of ICAM-1 mRNA.