Organ distribution of 3H-endotoxin in rats with liver fibrosis and rats with liver cirrhosis

Abstract

The organ distribution of 3H-endotoxin was investigated in rats with CCl4-induced liver injury. Wistar male rats were given water containing phenobarbital (Controls), or were treated with water containing phenobarbital and CCl4 inhalation. Rats inhaling CCl4 for 6 weeks developed liver fibrosis (Group LF), while those inhaling it for 10 weeks developed liver cirrhosis (Group LC). Animals were killed and examined 24 hours after an intravenous injection of 3H-endotoxin (12,000 CPM/l g body weight). Compared with the control rats, the measured amount of 3H-endotoxin per unit weight of spleen, lungs, and blood increased, while that of the liver significantly decreased in the rats of groups LF and LC. These results suggest that endotoxemia may be enhanced by a diminished uptake of endotoxin by the liver in liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis.