ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of severe hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation on expression of EPHX2 and predictive transcription factor Sp1 in rat liver. MethodsSp1 was selected for study by software prediction of the transcription factor EPHX2. A total of 25 SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=5): control (CON) group, hemorrhagic shock (HS) group, 1 h after hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (HSR1) group, 3 h after hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (HSR3) group, and 6 h after hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (HSR6) group. Real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis were used to examine the expression of EPHX2 and Sp1 in the rat liver. ResultsThe expressions of EPHX2 mRNA in HS, HSR1, HSR3, and HSR6 groups were significantly lower than those in CON group (P<0.05), those in HSR1, HSR3 and HSR6 groups were significantly lower than those in HS group (P<0.05), and that in HSR1 group was significantly lower than those in the HSR3 and HSR6 groups (P<0.05). The expression of Sp1 mRNA in CON group was not significantly different from those in other groups, but the expressions in HS and HSR1 groups were significantly lower than that in the HSR6 group (P<0.05). Compared with CON group, EPHX2 protein expression was significantly lower in HSR1, HSR3, and HSR6 groups (P<0.05), and Sp1 protein expressions were similar in different groups. ConclusionEPHX2 mRNA expression is decreased in rat liver following severe hemorrhagic shock, and this decrease cannot be reversed by effective resuscitation; Sp1 is not involved in the process.