Objective To investigate the effects of breviscapine on the renal structure, function and PKC-?mRNA and its protein expression in brain-dead BA-Ma mini pigs. Methods Fifteen BA-Ma mini pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups: brain-dead group (group A), breviscapine pretreatment group (group B), and control group (group C), 5 pigs in each group. The brain-dead models were established by increasing intracranial pressure in a modified, slow and intermittent way. At 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h after the initial brain death, serum BUN, Cr, TNF-?, IL-1?, and IL-6 were determined. At 3, 6, 12, and 24 h, the changes of renal tissues were observed by HE staining, and the expression of PKC-?mRNA and protein was detected by RT-PCR and immnohistochemistry respectively. The ultrastructural changes of hepatic cells were observed under electron microscopy. Results (1) At 3rd h after the initial brain death, IL-1?, IL-6, and TNF-?in group A and group B began to increase. Serum BUN and Cr in group A and group B began to increase at 12 th after brain death and were higher at each time point (P