Objective To investigate the effect of adiponectin on early and late cytokine expression in lipopolysaccharide(LPS) induced septic rats. Method Ninety-six Wistar male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group (C group), model group （LPS group）,early adiponectin treatment group(APN+LPS group), late adiponectin treatment group(LPS+APN group). At 4 , 24, 48 and 72 hours after administration of LPS or 0.9% NS, rats were sacrificed by heart phlebotomy. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and Interleukin-6（IL-6） in plasma were determined by enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay(ELISA). Lung tissue were sampled. The expression of HMGB1 mRNA in the lung tissue were detected by Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with GAPDH as an internal standard. The survival curves in 4 groups were drawed. Results The levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in plasma in LPS group were higher than those in C group（P<0.05）,last for 24 hours. TNF-α and IL-6 levels of both APN+LPS group and LPS+APN group were reduced as compared with LPS group（P<0.05）. The HMGB1 mRNA expression level in lung tissue was measurable at 24 hours in LPS group（P<0.05）, and maintained a high level up to 48 hours after administration of LPS. The HMGB1 mRNA expression level in both APN+LPS group and LPS+APN group were decreased as compared with LPS group（P<0.05）. The survival rate of rats in both APN+LPS group and LPS+APN group were higher than LPS group（P<0.05）. Conclusions diponectin can raise the survival rate of septic rats significantly, it also can inhibit the early and late cytokines expression in LPS induced septic rats.