Abstract:Objective To observe the survival and liver differentiation of Green Fluorescent Protein ( GFP) labeled human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells ( GFP-hUCMSCs ) in SD rats during the embryonic stage, to investigate the feasibility of establishing a human-rat chimeric liver in the embryonic stage of rats. Methods Lentiviral containing GFP gene was used to transfect and to label human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, and then GFP- hUCMSCs were injected into the experimental group rat embryos. After embryonic rats birth, the Frozen liver sections were used, and the migration and distribution of the GFP-hUCMSCs were observed in the liver tissue. While the expression of human-related proteins in the rat liver were detected by immunohistochemical method . The control group was injected with an equal volume of normal saline. Results GFP signal were detected in liver tissue from the experimental group at 45 d,75 d, and 120 d after birth. Correspondingly, expression of the human hepatocyte-related proteins ALB, HNF3β, and HNF4α was detected in the liver tissue, but these proteins content at 120 d was extremely small, and partly not detected. The control group was negative. Conclusions In embryonic rats injected with hUCMSCs, the presence of GFP signal and the expression of the human hepatocyte-related proteins ALB, HNF3β, and HNF4α can be detected in the liver at 75 d after birth, and gradually decrease over time.