Objective:To investigate the effect of pretreatment with oleanolic acid(OA) on glycogen content during hepatic ischemic reperfusion(IR)in rats. Methods:128 Male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly devided into sham(A),IR(B),0.5%sodium carboxymethycellulose(CMC-Na)(C),OA+0.5% CMC-Na(D)equally. Before operation,all rats got intragastric administration once a day for 7 days, group D with OA(100 mg/kg)+0.5% CMC-Na,group A,B with water,group C with 0.5% CMC-Na in same volume. At the 8th day,rats suffered from segmental(70%)hepatic ischemia for 60 min and were followed by different periods of reperfusion. Blood and liver tissues were collected and measured respectively at preoperation,0,3 and 6 h after reperfusion for ALT,glycongen and lactate. And changes of histological pathology were also observed by light microscope. Results:Before operation,glycongen content of group D increased compared with other groups(P < 0.05). After reperfusion glycogen content in grup A decreased at 0,3,6 h compared with group B,C and D(P < 0.05);glycongen content in group D increased compared with group B and C respectively(P < 0.05). At 0 h after reperfusion,lactate level of group D increased compared with other groups(P < 0.05);lactate level of group B and C increased compared with group A(P < 0.05). At 3,6 h after reperfusion,the activity of ALT of group B,C and D increased compared with group A(P < 0.05);the activity of ALT in group D decreased compared with group B and C respectively(P < 0.05);group D had relieved morphologic changes compared with group B and C. Conclusion:OA pretreatment could increase glycogen content,also provide the rat liver with significant tolerance to IR injury. The mechanism may be related to the increased level of energy during IR.