Objective To establish the rat orthotopic liver transplantation model by characterizing the blood supply of hepatic artery with the Cuff skill and the modified arterial sleeve anastomosis, to explore the possible mechanisms of acute rejection and the express of Fractalkine (Fkn) in the early stage after hepatic allograft operation. Methods SD rats were selected as donors and Wistar rats as receptor for the rejection model of orthotopic liver transplantation. Recipient rats were divided into 2 groups randomly after operationand the drugs were given intraperitoneally once a day in each group. In the experimental group, cyclosporine A (CsA) was delivered with 3 mg/kg. In the control group, only normal saline was given with 3 ml/kg. Condition of survivals were observed. The rejection actvity index (RAI) and the expression of Fkn of liver tissue were observed after 3rd, 5th and 7th days in 5 rats. The rest of rats in each group were fed and given drug or normal saline until they were died and the mean survival time were recorded. Results There were 18 survivals in control group, and 19 in experimental group after liver transplantation. Condition of survivals in experimental group was better than that of control group. The mean survival times of experimental group(19.50±4.51 days) was significantly longer than that of control group(7.60±1.60 days), showing statistically significant difference (P＜0.05). After 3rd, 5th and 7th days of transplantation, RAI of control group were 3.80±0.35,5.90±0.87 and 7.50±1.30,respectively;RAI of experimental group were 3.10±0.21,3.90±0.41 and 4.50±0.52.Therewasstatistically significant difference in RAI between 2 groups on the 7th day after transplantation (Plt;0.01). On the 3rd,5th and 7th days after transplantation, the Fkn of control group was 8.20±0.57,21.30±3.30 and 25.70±4.91, and that of experimental group was 8.30±0.56,10.30±0.67 and 11.70±1.23. There were statistically significant differences in Fkn between 2 groups on the 5th, 7th days after transplantation (Plt;0.01). Conclusion Fkn is a participant inacute rejection after the rat orthotopic liver transplantation and can be chosen as a useful target in the diagnosis of acute rejection. CsA has immunosuppressive property in the condition of acute rejection in the rat orthotopic liver transplantation, which may be result from the decreased the level of Fkn.