Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of captopril on hepatocellular steatosis in rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Methods 64 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups with 16 in each, and the rats in control were fed with normal diet or with high-fat diet for NAFLD model, in which were intragastricly administered with normal salt (model), captopril or rosiglitazone for six weeks.The hepatic cytochrome oxidase P4502E1 (CYP2E1) mRNA was detected, and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levelswere assayed.Results The extensive steatosis and cell edema were found in themodel group, while in the captopril-intervened group, the hepatocytes were arranged normally, with a small amount of steatosis and decreased cells edema; serum aspertate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC) and total glycerin (TG) levels in the captopril-intervened group were (94.1±15.6)U/L,(27.3±6.2)U/L,(1.4±0.2)mmol/L and (1.0±0.2)mmol/L, significantly lower than 【(134.4±35.1)U/L,(35.2±7.1)U/L,(1.8±0.4)mmol/Land (1.4±0.2)mmol/L, respectively,P＜0.05】 in the model; the liver wet weight, liver index and hepatic CYP2E1 mRNA levels in captopril-intervened group were(11.7±2.1)g, (2.3±0.3)% and (1.8±0.2), significantly lower than 【(14.3±2.0)g,(2.6±0.2)% and (2.3±0.1), respectively, P＜0.05】 in the model; serum MDA level was (7.6±2.5)nmol/L, significantly lower than 【(12.1±2.6)nmol/L, P＜0.05】, while serum GSH level was (41.0±17.5)mg/L, significantly higher than 【(22.2±10.2)mg/L, P＜0.05】 in the model. Conclusion Captopril could effectively reduce the steatosis of hepatocytes in rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which might be related to the modulation of lipid metabolism disorder, the restoration of liver function and the enhancement of anti-oxidative stress

Key words: Nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases, Captopril, Steatosis, Oxidative stress, Rats