Objective To investigate if glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK)would relieve the liver injury induced by endotoxemia in rats.Methods Sixty SD male rats,weight 200-250g,were randomly divided into three groups (n = 20):control group (group C),lipopolysaccharide group (group LPS,LPS 8 mg/kg)and Glucose-insulin-potassium group(group GIK,8 mg/kg LPS+GIK 4 ml·kg-1 ·h-1 ).All the rats were injected with 20 mg/kg ketamine intraperitonealy before trial. Erythrocin was daubed on the wound to avoid infection.The rats of group LPS and group GIK were injected LPS 8 mg/kg intraperitoneal,then,rats in group LPS and group GIK received saline(4 ml·kg-1 ·h-1 )or GIK(Glucose 200 g/L,Insulin 60 IU/L,KCL 60 mmol/L)infusion continuously. Liver and serum samples were collected on before injection,3 days after injection and 5 days after in-jection.Serum concentrations of ALT and AST were measured.TNF-αlpha of liver homogenate was detected by ELISA.The severity of liver damage was assessed by an approprite histopathological sco-ring system and apoptosis of parenchymal cells were assessed by TUNEL immunofluorescence assay. Results Compared with group control,the level of serum ALT and AST in group LPS and group GIK were significantly higher at 3 days after injection.The level of hepatic TNF-α,the hepatic damage score and the index of hepatic apoptosis in group LPS and group GIK were significantly higher on 3 days after injection and 5 days after injection.(P<0.05).Compared with group LPS,the level of hepatic TNF-αand the hepatocyte apoptosis rates decreased significantly in group GIK on 3 days after injection.The level of serum ALT and AST,hepatic TNF-α,the hepatic damage score and the hepatocyte apoptosis rates decreased significantly in group GIK at 5 days after injection(P <0.05).Conclusion Intraperitoneal injection of endotoxin can cause liver injury in rats,resulting in the liver hepatdysfunction and hepatocyte damage.GIK has protective effects on LPS induced liver injury in rats.