Abstract： Objective To determine the expressions of thrombomodulin (TM) and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) in the lung of rats with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and to investigate the mechanism of lung injury in MODS. Method Forty adult mule Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into two groups,namely the normal control group and the MODS model group. The rats of model group were further divided into four subgroups as per different intervals (6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h) ,and there were 8 rats in each groups. The animal models of MODS were estabhshed by two hits,the left eyeball of each model rat was removed to bleed to 2 mL/100g,and four hours later, lipopolysaccharide (LPS 5 mg/kg) was injected into intraperitoneal cavity of model rats. The same volume of saline was injected intraperitoneally into rats of control group instead of LPS. All rats were sacrificed at various intervals. The histological changes in lung tissue were observed by naked eye and light microscope. The expressions of TM and MMP-9 proteins were deteceted by using immunohistechemistry. One-way ANOVA was used for comparison among multiple group. Results (1)There were no histopathological changes in lung of rats of control group, and the lung injury was serious in MODS rots. (2) Compared with the rots of con-trol group, the expression of TM in lung tissue of MODS rats increased 6 hours after LPS, reached peak 12 hours later(P <0.01),and then decreased during 24～48 period.There was no significant difference in expression of TM between two groups 48 hours later. Compared with control group, the expressions of MMP-9 in lung tissue of MODS rats didn't significantly increase 6 ～ 48 hours after LPS (P < 0.01). Conclusions There are endothelium damage and extracellular matrix damage found in the lung tissue of rats at the early phase of MODS. TM and MMP-9 are good biomarkers of endothelium and extracellular matrix damage, and they can be used for diagnosing and es-timating the severity of injury lungs at the early phase of MODS.