To obtain a better insight in the kinetics of hepatic growth factors following partial hepatectomy for living-related liver donation, we investigated the postoperative changes of serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), vascular epidermal growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha). 18 healthy donors undergoing right hepatectomy for living-related donation were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of HGF, EGF, VEGF, and TGF-alpha were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays before surgery, 2 hours after resection, and daily during 5 days postoperatively. Mean preoperative HGF serum levels in healthy adults were 778 ± 64 pg/ml. It significantly increased to 9608 ± 3111 pg/ml within two hours after operation, and afterwards decreased to 2726 ± 241 at day 1 and 2283 ± 250 pg/ml at day 2. Hereafter HGF serum levels stabilized on increased levels until day 5 (2109 ± 138, 2047 ± 219, 2283 ± 336 pg/ml). At all time points, differences between pre- and postoperative HGF levels were significantly different (p < 0.01). VEGF levels were different only on day 4 and 5. In contrast, EGF serum levels showed no significant differences between pre- and postoperative levels. TGF-alpha was not detected using commercially available test with a detection limit of 10 ng/ml, suggesting even low TGF-alpha serum levels following liver resection. Significantly increased HGF serum levels after hepatectomy demonstrate its crucial role among the other investigated growth factors in regeneration of the remnant liver tissue during the early period after operation.