['Cardiopulmonary bypass-induced acute liver injury is a life-threatening complication thought to be associated with the inflammatory response and the acute-phase response. Recombinant human growth hormone can modulate the acute-phase response and inflammatory response. We tested the protective effect of growth hormone on cardiopulmonary bypass-induced liver injury in the rat.', 'Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (group G received 2.5 mg/kg recombinant human growth hormone intramuscularly at 8 am every 24 hours for 3 days and just before the initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass; group C served as a control group) underwent cardiopulmonary bypass (120 minutes, 120 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1), 34 degrees C) and were killed 3 hours after the termination of cardiopulmonary bypass.', 'Administration of recombinant human growth hormone markedly increased serum insulin-like growth factor and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 levels compared with those seen in group C. Group G showed significantly lower serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin after cardiopulmonary bypass termination. Those receiving recombinant human growth hormone demonstrated a significant increase in serum prealbumin and transferrin levels and a marked decrease in serum amyloid A and C-reactive protein levels. Recombinant human growth hormone significantly decreased serum tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1beta levels, whereas no changes were found for serum interleukin 6 and interleukin 10 levels. Recombinant human growth hormone significantly increased total liver protein content and hepatocyte proliferation and decreased hepatocyte apoptosis versus values seen in group C.'] Does growth hormone prevent acute liver injury induced by cardiopulmonary bypass in a rat model?