Objective To establish a rat liver transplantation model under direct vision of single operator and to explore the effect of different perfusion methods on the quality of the donor liver. Methods On the basis of the "two-cuff method" established by Kamada, the operation details were improved to established the rat liver transplantation model. The recipient rats were divided into two groups according to different perfusion methods, group A (perfusion via abdominal aorta) and group B (perfusion via portal vein). The perfusion effect, operation time, operation success rate, postoperative liver function, liver graft pathological manifestations and survival were compared between the two groups. Results There were more residual red blood cells in sinus hepaticus in group B than in group A after perfusion. Both the donor liver perfusion time and donor operation time were longer in group A than those in group B, and the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.01). The success rate of operation in group A and group B was 77% and 71%, respectively. At 3 d after liver transplantation in rats, the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin (TB) of the rats in the two groups were significantly higher than normal. At 7, 30 d after operation, compared with group A, the levels of ALT, AST and TB in group B were significantly increased, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.01-0.05). The liver pathological examination showed that the degree of inflammatory reaction in the liver and degree of destruction of liver tissue in group B were more severe than those in group A, but there was no significant difference in long-term survival rate between the two groups. Conclusions Although the perfusion time and donor operation time of rat liver transplantation model were slightly prolonged by means of abdominal aorta perfusion, the perfusion effect was better, which can reduce liver tissue damage after operation and restore liver function to normal levels more quickly.