['Induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protects the liver against reperfusion injury after hemorrhagic shock. Previous data suggest that the beta(1)-adrenoceptor agonist dobutamine induces HO-1 in hepatocytes.', 'To investigate the functional significance of dobutamine pretreatment for liver function after hemorrhagic shock in vivo.', "Anesthetized rats received either Ringer's (Vehicle/Shock), 10 microg/kg/min of the beta(1)-adrenoceptor agonist dobutamine (Dob/Shock), or 10 microg/kg/min dobutamine and 500 microg/kg/min of the beta(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist esmolol (Dob/Esmolol/Shock) for 6 h. Hemorrhagic shock was induced thereafter (mean arterial pressure, 35 mm Hg for 90 min). Animals were resuscitated with shed blood and Ringer's. In addition, the HO pathway was blocked after dobutamine pretreatment with 10 micromol/kg tin-mesoporphyrin-IX (Dob/SnMP/Shock) or animals received 100 mg/kg of the carbon monoxide donor dichloromethane (DCM/Shock).", 'Hepatocellular metabolism and liver blood flow were measured by plasma disappearance rate of indocyanine green (PDR(ICG)) as a sensitive marker of liver function.', 'Pretreatment with dobutamine induced HO-1 in pericentral hepatocytes and improved PDR(ICG) (Vehicle/Shock: 11.7 +/- 8.12%/min vs. Dob/Shock: 19.7 +/- 2.46%/min, p = 0.006). Blockade of the HO pathway after preconditioning and the combined pretreatment with dobutamine and esmolol decreased PDR(ICG) (Dob/SnMP/Shock: 12.6 +/- 4.24%/min, p = 0.011; Dob/Esmolol/Shock: 10.2 +/- 4.34%/min, p = 0.008). Pretreatment with a carbon monoxide donor improved PDR(ICG) (DCM/Shock: 18 +/- 3.19%/min, p = 0.022) compared with Vehicle/Shock.'] Does dobutamine improve liver function after hemorrhagic shock through induction of heme oxygenase-1?