CCL4 CIRRHOSIS IN RATS - IRREVERSIBLE HISTOLOGICAL-CHANGES AND DIFFERENTIATED FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT

Cirrhosis of the rate liver was induced by a 12 week individualized CCl4/phenobarbital treatment. After treatment, all surviving animals (81%) showed cirrhosis of the liver. The cirrhosis induced was irreversible when evaluated 24 weeks after cessation of treatment. Quantitative liver function measurements were reduced in differentiated manner. Ranked according to the most pronounced changes they are: capacity of urea-N synthesis (CUNS), galactose elimination capacity (GEC) and antipyrine clearance (APC). Hepatic glutathione concentrations were only slightly decreased after the CCl4 treatment. It is possible to produce a high incidence of irreversible cirrhosis with differentiated functional impairment in the rat.