OBJECTIVETo study the location, immigration of allogenic grafted Feridex-labeled rat bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) in chemically-induced acute injured livers and their role on repairing the injured liver function.

METHODSThe rat models of chemically-induced acute hepatic injury established with CCl4 Feridex-labeled BMSCs were injected into the injured livers. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination was conducted on rat livers, the levels of ALT, AST and Fe3+ in the serum and hepatic tissues were studied 6 h before and 6 h, 1 w and 5 w after injection.

RESULTSCellular necrosis, congestion in the hepatic sinusoid and infiltration of inflammatory cells were seen in the model livers. Above 90 percent of the cells were Feridex-labeled BMSCs positive by prussian blue staining and iron particles were found in their endochylema through electron microscopy. MRI examination at the sequence of SE-T2WI showed remarkably low signal changes 6 h after injecting Feridex-labeled BMSCs and the site with signal changes gradually expanded 1 and 5 w after injection. Comparatively, the changes of low signal images at each time point in the injured livers were more obvious than those of the controls at all time points, respectively. Simultaneously, pathological injuries in the livers were ameliorated and the levels of ALT and AST in serums declined: these changes in the Feridex-labeled BMSCs group were more obvious than those in the non-Feridex-labeled BMSCs group. Uniformly, there were no significant differences between the Feridex-labeled BMSCs group and the non-Feridex-labeled BMSCs group in view of histopathological examination and serological examination (including ALT, AST, Fe3+ levels) at all time points.

CONCLUSIONSThe liver function in the model of chemically-induced acutely-injured liver may be repaired by BMSCs implantation. Traced by MRI, BMSCs in the injured liver of rats disperse at a higher rate than in the normally fed ones.