Ethanol-induced focal cell necrosis via microcirculatory disturbance in the perfused rat liver

In the perfused rat liver, infusion of ethanol induced an initial increase in portal pressure which is an indicator of vasoconstriction and a subsequent increase in lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release, which is an indicator of cell damage in a dose-dependent fashion. Simultaneous infusion of sodium nitroprusside, a potent vasodilator, (100 microM) inhibited the increases in portal pressure and LDH release. Focal hepatocellular necrosis evidenced by trypan-blue stained cell nuclei were localized in midzonal and pericentral area of the liver lobules at 60 min after ethanol load. These ethanol-induced microcirculatory disturbance might be involved in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease.