Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of apoptosis-regulated proteins Bcl-2 and Bax on the 1iver of rats with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Methords 20 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into standard diet-fed group and high fat diet-fed group. After 12 weeks,the levels of serum triglyceride,total cholesterol,ALT and AST were measured. The levels of Bcl-2 and Bax Proteins were determined by Western blot. Results The NASH rats exhibited severe steatohepatitis with scattered punctual necrosis;The relative level of Bax in liver tissue of rats with NASH was significantly higher than that in controls（1.02±0.33 vs.0.51±0.03,P<0.01）,while the expression of Bcl-2 was decreased（0.15±0.31 vs 0.52±0.01,P<0.01）. The Bcl-2/Bax ratio also decreased in the NASH group（0.14±0.01 vs 1.03±0.06,P<0.01）. Conclusion Bcl-2 and Bax proteins could play a role in rats with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Key words: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, Apoptosis, Bcl-2, Bax