The role of food restriction on CCl4-induced cirrhosis model in rats.
Effects of food restriction on susceptibility to the toxic effect of some chemicals are controversial. In order to identify an exposure model that could maximize cirrhosis and minimize mortality rate, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of food restriction on tetrachloride carbon (CCl(4))-induced cirrhosis model in rats. Fifty-three male Wistar rats received CCl(4) 0.25 ml/kg weekly intragastrically once a week. Thirty-three had 44% food restriction (group 1); 10 rats had 25% food restriction (group 2); and 10 rats received ad libitum food (group 3). After 10 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and liver sections were collected for histology. Of the 53 animals enrolled for the study, 22 (41.5%) died before completing 10-week CCl(4). Mortality rate was significantly higher in group 1 compared to other groups (p<0.05). Cirrhosis was significantly more prevalent in group 1 than in group 3 (p<0.01), but without significant difference between groups 1 and 2 (p=0.624). We concluded that food restriction is an important issue to be considered when establishing a CCl(4)-induced cirrhosis model in rats. Moreover, there is an ideal range of food intake that predisposes to liver damage without increasing mortality leading to a more effective model.
Goldani
Helena A S
HA
Laboratório de Hepatologia Experimental, Centro de Pesquisas do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, 90035-003 Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil. hgoldani@hcpa.ufrgs.br
Matte
Ursula S
US
Ramos
Ana R L
AR
Costa
Tiago G
TG
Winkelmann
Leonardo V
LV
Meurer
Luise
L
Vieira
Sandra M G
SM
Kieling
Carlos O
CO
Silveira
Themis R
TR
D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D005508:Food Deprivation; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride