AIM We examined the effect of EGF on hepatic blood flow, serum ALT level and hepatic tissue PGE2 in animal model of acute hepatic failure. METHOD)EGF(20 μg/kg.Bw.) or saline was administrated iv, to male SD rats weighing about 250g. After 30minutes,D-galactosamine (D-gal) was injected at 1g/k g.B w. ip.Hepatic tissue blood flow(HTBF) and hepatic tissue PGE2 were measured by semiconductor laser Doppler flowmeter and RIA, respectivety,befor D-gal injection and after 48 hours. Blood sampeles were collected from inferior vena cava. RESULT Serum ALT,HTBF and PGE2 at 48hours after D-gal administration on were compared between the rats treated with EGF(EGF rats) and those which were not treated(control).Serum ALT was significantly lower in EGF rats than in the control (5200± 1812vs7614±1536IU/I).HTBF was signifi- cantly higher in EGF rats than in the control (296.8±30.7vs220.0±23.7mVV).PGE2 level was significantly lower in EGF rats than in the control(6.96 ±2.98vs28.16±10.23 pg/w/w/mg liver). CONCLUSION In D-gal rats,EGF pretreatment alleviated the rise of serum ALT level and the decrease of HTBF in D-gal trea-ted rats.However it seemed that this effect of EGF was not mediated by PGE2.