[Animals with liver fibrosis induced by albumin immunization]

An animal model of liver fibrosis was produced by means of albumin immunization. Human serum albumin was given subcutaneously to immunize the rats with a dose of 4 mg, for 4 times. Then a booster dose was given through the caudal vein of rats in which albumin antibodies had been produced. Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis was formed in 85.5% of the animals. The increase of collagen content in liver tissue was parallel with the pathological grading of fibrosis. Reabsorption of fibrous tissue in this model occurred much later than in CC14 model. Subcutaneous administration of PGE1 could effectively protect the rats from anaphylactoid shock due to bigger booster dose. In regard to the mechanism of fibrosis, study with electronic microscopy, immunofluorescence histology, detection of serum C1q and C3 suggested that liver fibrosis results from proliferation of lipocytes, which was promoted by the formation of albumin and immune complex, and excessive secretion of collagen.