<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the differentiation of
bone marrow stem cells in transplanted
livers and its impact on the long-term
survival of
rats with orthotopic
liver transplantation.</p><p><b>
METHODS</b>Twenty-four
female recipient
rats with orthotopic
liver transplantation were randomized into blank-
control group, D-hanks
solution group,
bone marrow stem cells group with postoperative infusion of
stem cells, and the pathological changes of the
liver grafts and
survival time of the
rats were observed. The differentiation of the
bone marrow stem cells were assessed 60 days after
transplantation using
in situ hybridization histochemistry for
Sry gene and
alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In
rats with postoperative infusion of
bone marrow stem cells through the
portal vein, the median long-term
graft survival time exceeded 180 days, significantly longer than that in the other two groups (P<0.05), and no obvious evidence of acute rejection was observed with positive Sry expression and AFP expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Infusion of
bone marrow stem cells through the
portal vein following
liver transplantation may alleviate acute
graft rejection and promote long-term
liver graft survival and AFP expression.</p>