OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of different approaches of bone marrow stromal stem cell (BMSCs) transplantation into the allogenic rat liver.

METHODSThirty male SD rats were randomized equally into local liver group, portal vein group, and femoral vein group, and received injection of 1×10⁶/ml BMSCs directly into the rat liver, through the portal vein and through the femoral vein, respectively. The rat livers were scanned by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 12 h and 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 days after the cell transplantation. Prussian blue staining of the rat liver sections was also performed 14 days after the transplantation.

RESULTSMRI showed decreased signal intensity in all the rat livers of the local liver group; the ovoid area of the signal intensity gradually shrunk and the signal intensity increased with the passage of time. Lowered signal intensity was also seen in the rat livers of the portal vein group, appearing constantly branch-shaped, indistinct and increased gradually. Decreased signal intensity did not occur in the livers of femoral vein group. Prussian blue staining of all the rat livers at day 14 showed the presence of cells containing blue particles in all the groups, most numerous in the local liver group followed by the portal vein group and then the femoral vein group.

CONCLUSIONDirect intrahepatic injection of the BMSCs results in better effect than cell transplantation via the portal vein or the femoral vein.