Objective To investigate the effect of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) activity on rat liver transplantation model. Methods One hundred and thirty-seven rats were divided into 4 groups. Study control group (n＝44)： 24 h before operation, saline 5 ml/kg was infused into peritoneal cavity of donor rats; Hemin group (n＝44)： hemin 100 mg/kg was infused into peritoneal cavity of donor rats 24 h before operation, and hemin 100 mg/kg was infused into portal vein during the preserve time in 4 ℃ saline； ZnPP group (n＝44)： ZnPP 5 mg/kg was infused into peritoneal cavity of donor rats 24 h before operation, and ZnPP 5 mg/kg was infused into portal vein during the preserve time in 4 ℃ saline； Normal control group (n＝5)： normal rats as normal control group. Expressions of HO-1 protein and mRNA were detected with immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR technique respectively. The apoptosis rate of hepatocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results Expression of HO-1 mRNA in the liver of hemin group after transplantation was higher than that in study control group obviously, serum ALT and AST levels were lower than those in study control group (P＜0.05); HO-1 mRNA expression in ZnPP group liver was lower than that in study control group, serum ALT and AST levels were higher than those in study control group (P＜0.05). About liver cell apoptosis rate 48 h after liver transplantation, ZnPP group was the highest, hemin group was the minimum, and there had a significant difference between two groups (P＜0.05). Seven days after transplantation, the survival ratios of control study group, hemin group and ZnPP group were 7/12, 9/12 and 4/12 in turn, the inter-group differences had statistical significance (P＜0.05). Conclusion Activity of HO-1 could be induced by the transplant operation. HO-1 increases the survival rate after liver transplantation which was related with reducing apoptotic ratio of hepatocyte and improve hepatic function.