Abstract: Objective: To explore the correlation between gastric epithelial cell apoptosis induced byHelicobacter pylori(Hp) and nitric oxide(NO) in rats.Methods:Sixty wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group,Hp infection group and Hp eradication group(20 rats each group).The rats in the control group were fed as normal.The chronic gastritis model rats in HP infection group were established then the rats were infected with Hp according to chen's methods.The rats in Hp eradication group were treated with quadruple chemotherapy after Hp infection.The gastric epithelial apoptosis of rats in all groups were determined by nick terminal lable technique(TUNEL),the NO levels in serum of 3 groups were determined by nitrate reductase method.Results:The apoptotic index in gastric endothelial cell and levels of NO in serum in Hp infection group were significantly higher than those in control group (P0.01).Compared with the Hp infection group,the apoptotic index in gastric endothelial cell and levels of NO in serum in Hp eradication group were significantly reduced(P0.01).There were positively correlations between the apoptotic index and NO levels in Hp infection group and Hp eradication group (P0.05).Conclusions:Hp can induce the apoptosis of gastric endothelial cell.Promoting the NO generation may be one of inducing cell apoptosis mechanisms.