Research into ischaemia and reperfusion injury especially in liver transplantation has been aimed primarily at preventing deterioration of organ function before harvest and at improving organ preservation techniques. Recent studies however, suggest that postischaemic organ function and viability can be improved not only through improved organ protection before ischaemia, but also with therapy aimed at ameliorating the organ reperfusion injury. In order to develop successful therapeutic interventions against ischaemia-reperfusion induced liver injury, it is necessary to consider the primary site of injury as well as to explore the mechanism(s) and possible factors which may contribute to the injury during ischaemia and reperfusion. Studies on hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion injury have focused mainly at hepatocellular level. Until recently, more attention has been drawn t o the important role of hepatic microcirculation on the pathophysiology of the above injury. The argument that hepatic microvasculature is the primary site of ischaemia-reperfusion injury and possible factors which cause this injury are among the issues reviewed in this article. KEYWORDS: ischaemia, reperfusion, liver, microvasculature, oxygen radicals