title: Dimethylnitrosamine-induced hepatotoxicosis in dogs as a model of progressive canine hepatic disease.
abstract: A model of toxin-induced progressive hepatitis is described in Beagles. The toxin, dimethylnitrosamine, was administered orally to 18 Beagles; 6 dogs comprised a control group. Clinical signs and laboratory test results were monitored as disease progressed and were used to determine the end point of disease. Following euthanasia, histologic lesions were scored and used to derive a total severity score for each dog. Severity scores were then used to allot the 18 dogs to 3 groups of hepatic disease, defined as mild, moderate, or severe. Changes in clinical laboratory test results, including tests of hepatic function, and clinical signs indicative of liver disease were described chronologically for all dogs. Group means of clinical laboratory test results and quantifiable clinical signs (eg, weight loss and ascitic fluid accumulation) were compared. This model offers several advantages, compared with other experimental models of canine hepatic disease. These include hepatospecificity, similarity to natural disease (eg, the development of multiple extrahepatic portosystemic shunts), and the ability to titrate the disease to a desired end point. The major disadvantages of this model were the toxic nature of the drug to human beings and the variation in individual animal response to the toxin, which precludes preassignment of animals into groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas Veterinary Medical Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-4466.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Boothe
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Corrier
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Boothe
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weise
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine