Acute liver failure in rats inhibited by intrasplenic administration of OK-432

Intrasplenic administration of OK-432, an immunostimulant derived from Streptococcus, prevented hepatic failure induced in rats by D-galactosamine. When OK-432 was given 1.0 K.E. (Group I) or 0.1 K.E. (Group II) into the subcutaneously transpositioned spleen three times prior to dosing with D-galactosamine, survival rates were 100 and 87%, respectively. On the contrary, with a splenic injection of saline (Group III), the survival rate was 47 and 32% in rats given OK-432 1.0 K.E. intraperitoneally (Group IV). The poisoned rats given no pretreatment (Group V) survived at a rate of 26%. These results show that intrasplenic administration of OK-432 leads to a significant enhancement of survival. Metabolic data and histological findings were compatible with survival rates, in each group. Activation of the reticuloendothelial function by the intrasplenic administration of this immunostimulant seems to have prevented acute liver failure.