A reproducible model of fetal liver regeneration was created. Resection of 20% liver was carried out in rat fetuses on day 17 of prenatal development. The organ weight was restored after 2 days at the expense of an increase in hepatocyte mitotic activity; cell hypertrophy was minor. After recovery, the cell composition of the operated liver did not differ from the control, i.e. the regeneration was organotypical.