Liver regeneration after extensive hepatectomy in rats: effect of preoperative chemotherapy with intravenous 5-fluorouracil.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of preoperative intravenous chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil on liver regeneration in an experimental model of major hepatectomy in rats.

Methods: Wistar rats were divided into two groups of 20 animals each and submitted to 70% hepatectomy 24 h after intravenous injection of 5-fluorouracil 20 mg/kg (fluorouracil group, FG) or 0.9% saline (control group, CG).