Russek's (1981 a) review of the "hepatostatic" theory states that food absorbed from the intestine causes a change in liver metabolism that in turn affects food intake. The results of two of my experiments are in conflict with the theory. In one experiment, food absorbed in physiological amounts from the intestine of the rat failed to cause a decrease in subsequent food intake. In the other experiment, food absorbed from the intestine was diverted into the systemic blood through the use of a portacaval shunt. In spite of a decrease in the amount of absorbed food that would flow to the liver, there was no increase in food intake. These experiments fail to support the "hepatostatic theory".