Induction of cell proliferation by laxatives and related compounds in rat intestines was analysed by BrdU-labelling and compared with histopathological changes in the mucosa and findings for feces. Male F344 rats were fed a diet containing danthron, sennosid A, bisacodyl, 1-hydroxyanthraquinone (1-HAQ), magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), pectin, carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC-Na) or sodium chloride (NaCl) for 7 days. The stimulant laxatives, danthron, sennosid A and bisacodyl, significantly induced cell proliferation in almost the entire intestinal epithelia in a clear dose-dependent manner. DSS also induced cell proliferation in some portions at high doses. Increase in BrdU-labelling indices was correlated well with the severity of inflammatory changes in the intestinal mucosa as well as with purging effects of stimulant laxatives and DSS. In contrast, the bulk-forming laxative CMC-Na did not consistently enhance cell proliferation nor cause apparent cytotoxicity in the intestine despite exerting remarkable purging effects. 1-HAQ and MgSO4 slightly induced cell proliferation in the cecum and the colorectum, although there was little or no intestinal cytotoxicity. Pectin and NaCl did not influence cell kinetics of the epithelia, nor cause any inflammatory changes in the mucosa. Our results thus indicate that diarrhea caused by laxatives is not necessarily correlated with induction of cell proliferation, as in the intestinal mucosa, and that inflammatory changes followed by regenerative process could be responsible for enhancing cell kinetics. Although the precise significance of cell proliferation in carcinogenesis remains unclear, it is crucial for setting doses of carcinogenicity testings that charges in cell kinetics caused by chemicals be taken into account.