This study was done to investigate the effect of vitamin C on hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced hepatic injury ul isolated perfused rat liver. Isolated livers from rats fasted 18 hours were subjected to 45 min of hypoxia followed by reoxygenation for 45 min. The perfusion medium used was Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (pH 7.4) and 0.5 mmol/L of vitamin C was added to the perfusate. Alanine aminotransferase (ALI) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were significantly increased by hypoxia/reoxygenation. These increases were augmented by vitamin C. Glucose output and bile flow were markedly decreased by hypoxia/reoxygenation. Vitamin C aggavated the decrease of glucose output but had little effect on bile flow. Our findings suggest that hypoxia/reoxygenation diminishes hepatic metabolic and secretory functions, and vitamin C significantly aggravates these changes.