Morphological and biochemical alteration in the rat liver induced by maprotiline

The fatty change in the liver induced in male rats by a new antidepressant, maprotiline, given at high-dose was studied morphologically and biochemically. The accumulation of triglyceride in the liver was related to accelerated synthesis of fatty acid in the liver in males, which liver triglyceride was decreased in spite of increased synthesis of fatty acid from acetate in females. Secretion of lipoprotein granules was noted in both sexes. The sexual differences of triglyceride contents in the liver and serum was influenced by sexual hormone. Proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and "fingerprints" were found in treated rats and these were correlated with the induction of hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes. The "myeloid bodies" induced in hepatocytes were considered to be of lysosomal nature. Both morphological and biochemical alterations in the hepatocytes induced by maprotiline was reversible upon cessation of treatment.