Sex differences in the susceptibility of rats to carbon tetrachloride--alcohol-induced liver injury.
Treatment of male and female rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4, twice weekly, 0.2 ml/kg p.o.) and a 5% alcohol solution during four weeks evoked strong increments of the serum enzyme activities of the aminotransferases (GOT, GPT) and the sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH). These occurred earlier and were more pronounced in male compared to female rats. Hepatic triglyceride contents as a measure of fatty infiltration was augmented three-fold both in males and females at the end of the experiment. Hepatic hydroxyproline contents were enhanced seven-fold in males, but only two-fold in females. It is concluded that female rats are less susceptible to CCl4--alcohol-induced liver damage, especially hydroxyproline accumulation, which is explained by the known fact that females are more resistant against CCL4-hepatotoxicity as a consequence of a minor role of bioactivation in the metabolic degradation of CCL4 by females.
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
D014280:Triglycerides; D000431:Ethanol; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D006909:Hydroxyproline