We evaluated the role of magnetic resonance (MR)imaging withgadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine-pentaaceticacid (Gd-EOB-DTPA), in estimating regional liverfunction in a rat ischemia-reperfusion model. Ischemic liver damage was induced in theright lobe by vascular clamping for 0 (sham), 30 (I-30),60 (I-60), and 90 min (I-90 group). The ischemic lobesin the I-60 and I-90 groups was clearly visualized as a high intensity area in the T1 images atlate phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA enhancement, Moreover, the T1/2 of signal intensity in ischemic lobes significantlycorrelated with the duration of vascular clamping. We also observed significant correlationbetween T 1/2 and ATP concentration in the liver tissue(r = –0.719, P = 0.04). Our results indicate thatMR imaging with Gd-EOB-DTPA is useful for evaluation of regional liver function in rats.