AIM:To study the preventive effect of hydrotalcite on gastricmucosal injury in rat induced by taurocholate,and toinvestigate the relationship between the protectivemechanism of hydrotalcite and the expression of trefoilfactor family 2 (TFF2) mRNA and c-fos protein.METHODS:Forty five male Wistar rats were randomlydivided into hydrotalcite group,ranitidine group andcontrol group.Gastric mucosal injury was induced byintrogastric acidified taurocholate.OD value of TFF2 mRNAexpression in gastric mucous cells was determined byhybridization and computer image analysis system.ODvalue of c-fos protein expression in gastric mucous cellswas measured by immunohistochemistry and computerimage analysis system.RESULTS:The gross mucosal injury index in hydrotalcitegroup was significantly lower than that in ranitidine groupand control group (8.60±2.20 vs 16.32±4.27,29.53±5.39;P<0.05,P<0.01).The expression level of TFF2 mRNA inhydrotalcite group was markedly higher than that in ranitidinegroup and control group (0.56±0.09 vs 0.30±0.05,0.28±0.03,P<0.05).The OD value of c-fos protein in hydrotalcite groupwas higher than that in ranitidine group and control group(0.52±0.07 vs 0.31±0.04,0.32±0.05,P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Hydrotalcite can protect gastric mucosalinjury in rats induced by taurocholate,which may be relatedto the increased expression of TFF2 and c-los protein. AIM: To study the preventive effect of hydrotalcite on gastric mucosal injury in rat induced by taurocholate, and to investigate the relationship between the protective mechanism of hydrotalcite and the expression of trefoil factor family 2 (TFF2) mRNA and c-fos protein. METHODS: Forty five male Wistar Rats were randomly divided into hydrotalcite group, ranitidine group and control group. Gastric mucosal injury was induced by introgastric acidified taurocholate. OD value of TFF2 mRNA expression in gastric mucous cells was determined by hybridization and computer image analysis system. ODalue of c-fos protein expression in gastric mucous cellswas measured by immunohistochemistry and computerimage analysis system .RESULTS: The gross mucosal injury index in hydrotalcite group was significantly lower than that in ranitidine group and control group (8.60 ± 2.20 vs 16.32 ± 4.27, 29.53 ± 5.39; P <0.05, P <0.01). expression level of TFF2 mRNA inhydrotalcite group was markedly higher than that in ranitidinegroup and co ntrol group (0.56 ± 0.09 vs 0.30 ± 0.05, 0.28 ± 0.03, P <0.05). The OD value of c-fos protein in hydrotalcite group was higher than that in ranitidine group and control group (0.52 ± 0.07 vs 0.31 ± 0.04, 0.32 ± 0.05, P <0.05) .CONCLUSION: Hydrotalcite can protect gastric mucosalinjury in rats induced by taurocholate, which may be related to the increased expression of TFF2 and c-los protein.