Background: Portal vein embolization (PVE) is used routinely to prevent postoperative liver failure as a result of anticipated insufficient future liver remnant volume following resection. The authors have recently developed a technique for temporary PVE. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of repeated reversible PVE on hepatocyte proliferation and subsequent liver hypertrophy in rodents. Methods: Four treatments were compared (n=21 rats per group): single reversible PVE, two PVEs separated by 14 days, partial portal vein ligation or sham procedure. The feasibility and tolerance of the procedure were assessed. Volumetric imaging by CT was used to estimate the evolution of liver volumes. After death, the weight of liver lobes was measured and hepatocyte proliferation evaluated by immunostaining. Results: Embolization of portal branches corresponding to 70 per cent of total portal flow was performed successfully in all animals. Repeated PVE induced additional hepatocyte proliferation. Repeated embolizationresultedinsuperiorhepatocyteproliferationinthenon-occludedsegmentscomparedwith portal vein ligation (31⋅1 versus 22⋅2 per cent; P=0⋅003). The non-occluded to total liver volume ratio was higher in the repeated PVE group than in the single PVE and sham groups (P=0⋅050 and P=0⋅001 respectively). Conclusion: Repeated reversible PVE successfully induced additional hepatocyte proliferation and subsequent liver hypertrophy