Objective To investigate the effect of renal cell apoptosis induced by obstructive jaundice on the expression of bcl-2 in rats, and to explore the mechanism of renal impairment induced by obstructive jaundice. Methods Thirty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: SO group and BDL group. The rats in SO group received sham operation. Bile ducts of rats in BDL group were ligated. Pathology of kidneys was observed under the microscope. The levels of D-Bil, TBA, GOT, GPT, Cr and BUN in serum and β2-MG in urine were measured. The apoptotic rate of renal cells was calculated by flow cytometry and the forms of DNA fragmentation in renal cells were detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. The expression of inhibitory gene bcl-2 in the renal tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results The color of urine in BDL group became dark yellow in day 2 after operation; The ears, tails and the muscle of abdominal wall and splanchnic organs, such as liver and kidney, also became yellow and swollen in day 7. The D-Bil, TBA, GOT, GPT, BUN of serum and β2 -MG of urine in BDL group were higher than those in SO group (P＜0.05, P＜0.01), and each value (except β2 -MG) in BDL group of 14 d was higher than that in BDL group of 7 d (P＜0.05, P＜0.01), respectively. The result of flow cytometry showed that the apoptotic rate of SO group and BDL (7 d and 14 d) group were (2.10±0.75)%， (18.17±0.86)% and (36.39±2.23)% respectively, there were significantly difference among them (P＜0.05). The expression rate of bcl-2 of renal cell in BDL group of 7 d was higher than that in BDL group of 14 d. Conclusion Obstructive jaundice could induce apoptosis of the renal cells, and activate the expression of bcl-2 of the renal tubular epithelial cells in feedback, which may regulate the process of apoptosis.