Backgroud & aim: It has been well-recognized that bone marrow transplantation can rescue severe liver failure through the generation of bone marrow-derived hepatocytes (BMDHs), however, the mechanism for in vivo production of BMDHs remains obscure.Methods: Fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (Fah) deficient mice were lethally irradiated and transplanted with bone marrow cells, followed by withdrawal of the drug 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoro-methylbenzoyl)-1,3 cyclohexanedione (NTBC) to select for BMDHs.