Abstract: Objective To detect the insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1)and insulin-like growth factors binding protein 3(IGFBP-3)levels in liver tissue of rat with intermittent hypoxia, and to investigate theeffect of intermittent hypoxia on liver, in order to provide pathophysiologic evidence of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS)in children. Methods A total of 20 day-old Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: mild hypoxia group, severe hypoxia group and control group, the first two groups were raised in sealed hypoxia box 8-hour per day and were sacrificed 35 days after, The level of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 of liver tissure was detected by immunohistochemical method. Results The expression of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 of liver in control group, mild hypoxia group and severe hypoxia group increased gradually. The positiveexpression rate of IGF-1 were 2/8, 3/8 and 6/8 in control group, low oxygen group and severe hypoxia group, respectively. The positiveexpression rate of IGFBP-3 were 3/8、4/8 and 7/8 in there group respectively. There was no significant difference in level of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 between the control group and the mild hypoxia(χ=20.157, P=0.315), and between the control group and thesevere hypoxia(χ=20.066, P=0.132). Spearman-test showed a positive correlation between level of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in severe hypoxia group(r=0.746, P<0.05). Conclusion GH-IGF1-IGFBP3axisdysfunctionhas little effect on IGF-1and IGFBP-3 in liver tissue of rate withintermittent hypoxia.There was no significant difference in level of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 among three groups.

Key words: Insulin-likegrowth factorl, obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome, insulin-likegrowth factor binding protein-3, liver