The role of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in modulating massive liver damage is not well known. In this study, expression of SDF-1 in bone marrow and liver was investigated in rats with acute liver failure (ALF) when mobilized using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). ALF was induced in rats by D-galactosamine (D-GalN). Starting after 2 hours following D-GalN induction, the animals were injected with G-CSF 50 microg/kg daily or saline as placebo for 5 days. The percentages of CD34+ cells in peripheral blood and the expression of SDF-1 in bone marrow and liver were then determined. The percentages of peripheral CD34+ cells demonstrated a transient increase in placebo rats following D-GalN induction and a significant increase in rats after G-CSF administration. SDF-1 expression showed a transient decrease in bone marrow and a transient increase in liver tissue from placebo rats. However, a significant decrease of SDF-1 expression in bone marrow and a remarkable increase in liver tissue were observed in animals from the G-CSF group. It was concluded that G-CSF can enhance the reduced expression of SDF-1 in bone marrow and increased expression in liver in ALF rats, forming a greater SDF-1 gradient, and chemoattracting CD34+ cells' migration from bone marrow to an injured liver.