AIM:To investigate the features of p53 expression and Caspase-3 activity assay in aristolochic acid(AA) induced renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis.METHODS:The direct toxic effect of AA on HK-2 cells was evaluated by Lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) releasing essay.Apoptosis was observed under fluorescence microscope after the cells were stained by Hoechst 33258.The apoptosis rate of HK-2 cells induced by AA was estimated with flow cytometric analysis and the expression of wild-type p53 mRNA was measured by R...