The administration of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) into rabbit induced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and finally caused a lethal hepatic failure. Blood collected from the rabbit was centrifuged and the supernatant was analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) for the study of proteome in serum. Compared with 2-DE gel of serum from healthy rabbit, a significant reduction in the number of protein spots having molecular weights (MWs) below 21 kDa was observed in the gels of the serum from the rabbit treated with DMN, while the secretion of albumin was:kept at,a high level. Separated spots in the two-dimensional gel were cut, digested with trypsin, and analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Serum amyloid A-3 protein precursor (SAA3) and other serum amyloid A (SAA) protein precursors were identified by matching the peptide masses with those in database. In the SAA family of acute-phase/inflammatory response proteins, SAA3 is mainly synthesized in the liver. The SAA3 secreted level in the serum decreased with time after DMN administration as the result of hepatic dysfunctions. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.