【Abstract】ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effects and the impact on the expression of Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 mRNA by Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) preconditioning in rat liver transplantation. MethodsMale Sprague-Dawley rats were used as donors and recipients of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and were divided into PNS preconditioning group (PNS group) and NS control group (NS group) randomly according to whether PNS was injected by venous (50 mg/kg) 1 h before liver grafts harvesting. The animals were respectively killed 2 h, 6 h and 24 h after reperfusion. Plasma samples were collected for ALT and AST test. Liver tissues were collected to detect histological changes, apoptosis and the expression of Bcl-2, Caspase-3 mRNA. ResultsThe serum levels of ALT and AST and the apoptosis index (AI) of liver tissue in PNS group were lower than those in NS group’s significantly (P＜0.05) at 2 h, 6 h and 24 h after reperfusion. The expression of Bcl-2 mRNA was enhanced significantly in PNS group at 6 h, 24 h after reperfusion and the expression of Caspase-3 mRNA was decreased significantly in PNS group at 2 h, 6 h after reperfusion as compared with NS group’s(P＜0.05). ConclusionPNS preconditioning can attenuate liver grafts ischemia/reperfusion injury and apoptosis of hepatocytes. Affecting expression of Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 genes may be one of the mechanisms of PNS antiapoptotic effects.