Objective To investigate the possible contribution of PPAR-? coupled signaling pathways to rat liver regeneration (LR) at transcription level.Methods The above signaling pathways-related genes were obtained by collecting database data and retrieving pertinent literatures. The gene expression during LR was checked by Rat Genome 230 2.0 array, and LR-associated genes were identified by comparing difference between partial hepatectomy (PH) and operation control (OC) groups.Results Sixty four genes were found to be LR-associated. The number of initially and totally expressed genes occurring in initiation phase of LR, G0/G1 transition, cell proliferation, cell differentiation and structure-function reconstruction was 28, 4, 34, 2 and 72, 41, 247, 90 respectively. Classification of their expression patterns into 11 groups reflected diversity and complexity of gene expression alteration in LR. Conclusion PPAR-? coupled signaling pathways may promote glycogen synthesis in forepart, prophase and anaphase of LR, cell proliferation and migration in the whole LR, while inhibits inflammation during LR.