PURPOSE:To test the hypothesis that liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy can be influenced by the ileum. METHODS:Eighteen Wistar rats were distributed into groups of six animals: 1 -ileum resection+ hepatectomy 2/3; 2 -hepatectomy 2/3, and 3 -sham. Anesthesia with ketamine and xylazine i.p., aseptic technique, analgesia with meperidine (10mg/kg s.c.). On day 6, serum ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase (AP) and albumin were measured. Liver regeneration and hepatocyte mitosis were quantified.Statistical analysis with ANOVA and Tukey tests, with significance p<0.05. RESULTS:In group hepatectomy+ileal resection, ALT, AST and AP were 180.6±24.9, 58.6±3.1 and 254.6±46.6 respectively. They were significantly higher than in the hepatectomy group, whose values were 126.0±16.5, 44.1±3.9 and 163.5±8.6, respectively (p<0.001).Albumin levels were not significantly different among groups. Liver regeneration in hepatectomy group (94.17%) was statistically higher (p<0.001) than in ileal resection+hepatectomy group (55.96%). In the latter group the mitosis of hepatocytes were significantly less frequent than in the hepatectomy group. CONCLUSION:The data confirm that the ileum positively influence on liver regeneration in rats undergoing hepatectomy.