Korean J Hepatol.  2002 Jun;8(2):173-178.

An Experimental Model of Hepatic Fibrosis Induced by Alcohol and CCl4: Can the Lipopolysaccharide Prevent Liver Injury Induced by Alcohol and CCl4?

• Chae HB
• Jang LC
• Park SM
• Son BR
• Sung R
• Choi JW

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It is well known that alcohol enhances the toxicity of CCl4. We tried to establish an alcoholic liver cirrhosis model by administration of alcohol and CCl4 to rats. We also wanted to know the hepatoprotective effect of low doses of lipopolysaccharide(LPS) in this animal model. METHODS: Of 20 female adult rats, 8 were ingested with alcohol ad libitum(group 1) Another 6 were ingested with 10% alcohol and 50% 1mL/kg CCl4 intragastrically by Sonde twice a week(group 2) The remaining 6 were ingested with 10% alcohol, CCl4, and 0.1mg/kg LPS intraperitoneally twice a week(group 3) The fibrosis was evaluated semiquantitatively on a scale of 0(none) to 3(cirrhosis). RESULTS: 1) After 10 weks, septal fibrosis or cirrhosis was produced in 9 out of 12 rats in groups 2 and 3 but there was no fibrotic change in group 1. 2) There was no significant difference in pathological grading between groups 2 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis can be sufficiently induced by alcohol and repetitive CCl4 ingestion for 10 weeks. We can not prove the hepatoprotective effect of low dose LPS by semiquantitative evaluation of pathological grading.

Keyword

Liver fibrosis; Alcohol and CCl4; Lipopolysaccharide

MeSH Terms

Animals
Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning/*complications
English Abstract
Ethanol/*toxicity
Female
Lipopolysaccharides/*administration & dosage
Liver/pathology
Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/pathology/*prevention & control
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley