This study investigated changes in expression of endothelial-overexpressed lipopolysaccharide-associated factor 1 (EOLA1) in grafts following liver transplantation in rats. Thirty Lewis rats received liver transplants from Lewis rats (tolerance group); 30 received liver transplants from dark Agouti rats (acute rejection group). Changes in serum biochemical indexes (alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin), graft histology and EOLA1 expression were measured on days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 post-operatively. Mean survival time was >100 days in the tolerance group and 16.2 +/- 1.4 days in the acute rejection group. Pathological evidence of acute rejection in grafts was seen after day 5 in the acute rejection group. Serum biochemical indexes were significantly higher in the acute rejection group than in the tolerance group from day 5 post-operatively, whereas EOLA1 expression in the liver graft was significantly higher in the tolerance group than in the acute rejection group. EOLA1 expression seems to be negatively correlated with severity of rejection after liver transplantation.