Objective: To explore the  significance of matrilin-2 expression  in hepatic oval cells during the liver regeneration of rats.
Methods: The liver regeneration model of the rat was constructed by using partial hepatectomy(PH group) or  partial hepatectomy after 2- acetylaminofluorene gastrogavage(2AAF/PH group). The matrilin-2 expression of the 2 models was observed and compared with the normal rats(control group). We used immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR to dectect the expression of matrilin-2 in the models.
Results:  In control group and  partial hepatectomy group, immunohistochemistry showed that there was extremely limited amount of matrilin-2  which was  located around the vessels of bile ducts and within the hepatic sinusoids.However, matrilin-2 was observed within the hepatic sinusoids around the portal vein in the 2-AAF/PH group.  In addition, RT-PCR showed a high level  expression of matrilin-2 mRNA in hepatic oval cells of 2-AAF/PH model whereas matrilin-2 mRNA was not found in the PH group and control group.
Conclusions: Our results show that matrilin-2 is an important extracellular inatrix protein produced during liver regeneration,and is also closely relevant to the proliferation and differentiation  of hepatic oval cells.