Objective To investigate the relationship among adiponectin,its receptors (AdipoR1,AdipoR2 and T-cadherin) and the pathological characteristics of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods The expression of Adiponectin,AdipoRl,AdipoR2 and T-cadherin was detected by immunohistochemistry in 42 cases of HCC tissues (tumor hepatic tissues and pericarcinomatous tissues).Results The expression of Adiponectin (2.88 ± 1.06 vs.5.98 ± 0.95),AdipoR1 (2.36 ± 1.38 vs.5.43 ±1.04),AdipoR2 (2.29±1.55 vs.5.14±1.22) andT-cadherin (2.17±1.34 vs.5.21 ±1.18) was decreased in tumor hepatic tissues compared to pericarcinomatous tissues.The expression of Adiponectin (2.57±1.03 vs.3.19±1.03),AdipoR1 (1.81 ±1.44 vs.2.90±1.09),AdipoR2 (1.48±1.47 vs.3.10 ± 1.18) and T-cadherin (1.76 ± 1.34 vs.2.57 ± 1.25) in HCC tissues with tumor thrombi was lower than in cancerous tissues without tumor thrombi.Adiponectin (2.30 ± 1.16 vs.3.06 ±0.98) and AdipoR2 (1.20 ± 1.48 vs.2.63 ± 1.43) expression in HCC tissues with satellite lesions was lower than in cancerous tissues without satellite lesions.The expression of T-cadherin in large size (＞5 cm) tumor tissues (1.59 ± 1.33) was lower than in the small size (≤5 cm) tumor tissues (2.56 ± 1.23).Conclusion The decreased expression of Adiponectin and its receptors may play a role in the intrahepatic metastasis of HCC.