ObjectiveTo explore the effect of exogenous ghrelin on early recovery of rats after subtotal gastrectomy. MethodsTwelve rats undergoing subtotal gastrectomy (B-Ⅰtype) were randomly divided into two groups, and saline or ghrelin was intraperitoneally injected in two groups, respectively. The body weight and daily food intake were measured before operation and on 1-7 d after operation. Rats were killed on day 7 after operation and the expressions of ghrelin mRNA in the fundus of stomach and anastomotic stoma was determined by realtime fluorescent quantitative PCR assay. The anastomotic bursting pressure and hydroxyproline content of anastomotic stoma tissues were also detected. ResultsThere was no significant difference (P＞0.05) in pre and postoperative body weight between two groups. Gradual decrease in postoperative body weight among the rats of saline group was observed which was significantly lower than that before operation (Plt;0.01). Body weight reached it’s lowest on day 1 after operation (Plt;0.01), after which it gradually increased but was still lower than that before operation (Plt;0.01). The postoperative body weight of rats in ghrelin group gradually decreased too, and was also significantly lower than preoperative body weight (Plt;0.01), except for the day 1 after operation (P=0.693). It reached the lowest on day 4 after operation (Plt;0.01), then it gradually increased but was still lower than that before operation (Plt;0.05 or Plt;0.01). The cumulative food intake of rats in ghrelin group was （52.50±6.77） g, which was significantly higher than that in saline group 〔(45.67±7.47) g〕, Plt;0.05. On day 7 after operation, relative expression of ghrelin mRNA in the fundus of stomach of rats in ghrelin group was 0.08±0.04, which was significantly lower than that in saline group (0.22±0.07), Plt;0.01. Compared with saline group, ghrelin-treated rats displayed significantly higher bursting pressure 〔（155.83±6.62） mm Hg vs. （172.33±10.44） mm Hg, Plt;0.05〕 higher hydroxyproline content 〔 (0.43±0.05) μg/mg wet tissue vs. （0.50±0.29） μg/mg wet tissue, Plt;0.01〕 at the anastomotic stoma. ConclusionGhrelin may effectively promote the early recovery of rats after subtotal gastrectomy.