Objective To study the relationship of hepatocyte apoptosis and gene expression of liver cirrhosis and primary hepatic carcinoma. Methods Specimens of liver tissue from patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension and normal subjects were examined by transmission electron microscope to detect apoptotic cells and primary cancer gene expression. Results The number of apoptotic cells and the apoptotic index of cirrhotic liver tissue was higher than that of normal subjects.Immunostaining of bcl 2,c myc,c fos was negative in normal liver tissue ,but was over expressed in cirrhosis. Conclusions Hepatocyte apoptosis plays a certain role in the development of hepatic cirrhosis. The oncogenes bcl 2,c myc,c fos take part in the regulation of hepatocyte apoptosis .