Abstract: Objective: To study the effect of PPAR-alpha agonist WY14643 on the expression of MMP-9 in hepatocellular
carcinoma. Methods: Twenty-four rabbits with VX2 hepatocellular carcinoma were established and randomly divided into four groups:
the control group, the low, the medium and the high dose group, each group consisting of 6 rabbits. Each medicated group was given
WY14643 at low（1 mg/kg）, medium（3 mg/kg）and high（6 mg/kg）doses via ear vein respectively. The control group was given the
same amount of 0.9% sodium chloride solution（NS）. The levels of MMP-9 in serum of each medicated group were determined before
and 12, 24 and 48 hours after administration. The control group was detected by blood sampling at the same time, and the SSPS 22.0
was used for statistical analyses. Then the experimental animals were killed and the samples of tumor tissues and adjacent liver tissues
were obtained for histopathological examination. Results: Compared with the control group, the serum levels of MMP-9 in WY14643
medium and high dose groups were significantly lower（P < 0.05）. The tumor cells in the four groups showed obvious pathological
changes; in the control group and the low dose group, a large number of steatosis and apoptotic cells were observed in the liver tissues
adjacent to cancer, and a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated in the surrounding tissues. Only mild steatosis and a small
number of inflammatory cells infiltrated in the liver tissues adjacent to cancer in middle and high dose groups. Conclusion: WY14643
has a certain inhibitory effect on MMP-9 of VX2 hepatocellular carcinoma in rabbits.

Key words: WY14643, matrix metalloproteinase-9, rabbit VX2 hepatocellular carcinoma