The in vivo absorption of D-galactose by rat whole intestinal surface after 4 weeks of 30% ethanol ingestion in drinking water has been studied, and the results were compared with ad lib-fed control rats. The total serosal intestinal area was determined by integration obtaining similar values between control and alcohol-treated groups. In the caecum surface of ethanol-fed rats slight but not significant increases were found, while the jejunum area decreased with respect to control rats. Total galactose absorption during 10 min of perfusion was slightly increased in ethanol-fed rats but these results were not significant with the substrate concentrations tested. When absorption data were referred to serosal surface, the absorption/cm2 values in ethanol-fed rats were increased at the studied galactose concentrations although these results were only statistically significant at 10 mM. In conclusion, the present data indicates a slight increase in D-galactose absorptive capacity by the whole intestine in ethanol-fed rats which suggest that the tissue traditionally not evaluated such as caecum and colon could modify the functional response to the absorption nutrients.