The effect of carbon tetrachloride on the copper-laden rat liver.
Copper is believed to be hepatotoxic in Indian Childhood Cirrhosis and Wilson's disease. However, copper-loading causes only minimal hepatic damage in animal models. The hypothesis was therefore proposed that a second hepatic insult may precipitate or perpetuate liver injury in a copper-laden liver. In non-copper-dosed rats CCl4 (10 mmol/kg, i.p.) produced elevated serum AST (809 +/- 298 IU/l, normal 20 +/- 5) and ALT (295 +/- 157 IU/l, normal 6 +/- 1) and extensive liver cell necrosis, portal tract inflammation, fat deposition, and perilobular hepatocyte ballooning. In rats whose liver copper was elevated from 75 +/- 13 to 461 +/- 13 micrograms/g by oral copper supplementation, CCl4 produced much smaller increases in AST (492 +/- 80 IU/l) and ALT (172 +/- 57 IU/l) and mild focal liver cell necrosis. Fat deposition and perilobular vacuolation were not reduced. Prior copper-loading of rats unequivocally protected against the CCl4-induced liver injury. Triglyceride accumulation, however, was apparently unaffected. The possible interactions of copper with prostaglandin-mediated inflammation and with free-radical-induced liver damage are discussed.
Barrow
L
L
Department of Child Health, University of Leicester, UK.
Tanner
M S
MS
D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D004798:Enzymes; D003300:Copper; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride