Objective To observe the effects of hepatic artery reconstruction in rat with orthotopic liver transplantation(OLT)on ultrastructure changes of intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells after ischemia reperfusion iniury and postoperative biliary complications. Methods Male SD rats were divided into sham operation group (SO),OLT with hepatic artery reconstruction group(HA)and OLT without hepatic artery reconstruction group (NA).The liver tissue samples were collected at 0.5,3,6,12,24,36,48 hours after ischemia reperfusion in both HA grouD and NA group.The uhrastructure of intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells was observed by transmission electron microscope,and the morphometric analysis by the computer image analysis system.The postoperative biliary complications were also observed.Results In HA group and NA group,the injury of intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells aggravated gradually along with the reperfusion.The uhrastructure changes,such as enlarged mitochondria,blurred or disappeared cristae and decreased number of microvilli,were most significant at 24 hours and then recovered gradually.The mitochondrial average area and average perimeter were increased and the mitochondrial numerical densitv was decreased gradually along with the reperfusion.At 24,36,48 hours,the mitochondrial average area and average perimeter in NA group were significantly greater than those in HA group(t=-3.566,-7.780,-4.730,-4.610,-2.599,-5.730,P＜0.05).The average numerial density of mitochondia in NA group was significantly less than that in HA group at 36,48 hours(t=-4.619,4.000,P＜0.05).The incidence rate of biliary complications in HA group is significantly lower than that in NA group(x2=4.286,P＜0.05).Conclusions Hepatic artery reconstruction in rat with OLT has an protective effect on the uhrastructure of intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells after ischemia reperfusion.It is beneficial to the recovery of intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells and can reduce the incidence rate of biliary complications.