To evaluate the relative gene expression (RGE) of cytosolic (MDH1) and mitochondrial (MDH2) malate dehydrogenasesenzymes in partially hepatectomized rats after glutamine (GLN) or ornithinealpha-ketoglutarate (OKG) suplementation. One-hundred and eight maleWistar rats were randomly distributed into six groups (n=18) CCaL, GLNL and OKGL and fed calcium caseinate (CCa), GLN and OKG, 0.5g/Kg by gavage, 30 minutes before laparotomy. CCaH, GLNH and OKGH groups were likewise fed 30 minutes before 70% partial hepatectomy. Blood and liver samples were collected three, seven and 14 days after laparotomy/hepatectomy for quantification of MDH1/MDH2 enzymes using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology. Relative enzymes expression was calculated by the 2-ΔΔC T method using the threshold cycle (CT) value for normalization. MDH1/MDH2 RGE was not different in hepatectomized rats treated with OKG compared to rats treated with CCa. However, MDH1/MDH2 RGE was greater on days 3 (3211/26.481) and 7 (2.121/2.481) while MDH2 RGE was greater on day 14 (7.791) in hepatectomized rats treated with GLN compared to control animals.