Short term hypoxia induced endothelial cells (ECs) injury, as manifested in increasing lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, decreasing nitric oxide (NO) production and antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and increased intracellular calcium concentration, which were further exaggerated by reoxygenation. Administration of 200 U/ml superoxide dismutase (SOD) before hypoxia could partially prevent EC from such injuries, suggesting that the presence of oxygen free radicals may be one of the main factors involved in hypoxia-reoxygenation injury. The ameliorative effect of SOD in case is obviously due to elimination of oxygen free radicals.