Abstract: Objective To explore the specific different iation indexes of hepatocarcinom a cells. Methods The BEL -7402 human hepatocarcinom a cell were treated with retinoic acid (RA) and sodium butyrate (SB) ( the well know ninducer of cell different iation) or carbon tetrachlo ride (hepatocyto toxic compound) to observe the differences of cell proliferation, colony-forming ability in semiso lid agar culture, nucleocyto-plasm ratio and various biochemical indexes. Results When treated with 10Lmo l/L RA, 2. 5mmo l/L SB or l/L CCl₄, the proliferation, colony-forming rate in semiso lid agar culture of the cells were all reduced. While treated with RA or SB, the nucleocytop lasm ratio of the cells, the specific activities of ornithine carbamoyl transferase (OCT ), tyro sine-A-ketoglu tarate transaminase (TAT ) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly increased (P < 0. 01 or P < 0. 05), that of r-glutamyl transpep tidase (r-GT ) and the secretory amount of alpha-fetopro tein (AFP) were significantly decreased (P < 0. 01 or P < 0. 05). The effects of CCl₄ on the nucleocytop lasm ratio and above biochemical indexes, how ever,were contrary to that of RA and SB. ConclusionThe nucleocytop lasm ratio,AFP secretion, the specific activities of OCT, TAT and ALP are reliable different iation indexes of hepatocarcinoma cells, they can distinguish the different iation effect from the cyto toxic response of hepatocarcinoma cells.