EFFECT OF DIPHENYLHYDANTOIN AND PHENOBARBITAL ON LIVER OF PIG

Fifteen pigs were treated with phenobarbital or with diphenylhydantoin, 6 were untreated. The drugs were administered per os for a period of 1–6 months. The serum concentrations were measured every 7th or 14th day. The serum concentrations in some pigs were kept within “therapeutic” levels, but in others within toxic levels. The liver was examined by ordinary histological and histochemical technique as well as by measuring cell diameters. Necrosis of liver cells was seen in a few animals after intoxication with either phenobarbital or diphenylhydantoin. Lysosomal changes were seen both after phenobarbital intoxication and after diphenylhydantoin intoxication. The changes were less pronounced after diphenylhydantoin intoxication, and showed reversibility on withdrawing the medication 16 days prior to autopsy. Animals intoxicated by phenobarbital or diphenylhydantoin showed reversible mitochondrial changes. Both “therapeutic” and toxic concentrations of phenobarbital resulted in areversible enlargement in the size of the liver cells. On treatment with diphenylhydantoin, enlargement of the liver cells was seen only after intoxication. The changes seemed to be slowly normalized after withdrawal of the medication. Copyright © 1969, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved