Changes in hamster liver albumin synthesis during the development of cardiomyopathy

Control ( F1B ) and cardiomyopathic (Bio 14.6) hamsters have been studied over an 11 month time interval, in an attempt to relate alterations in liver function with the onset of progressive heart damage. In most instances the parameters measured (e.g., liver weight, liver polysome content, in vitro polysome driven protein synthesis) were similar for both groups of animals. The exceptions appeared to be two Bio 14.6 animals that had liver hypertrophy, coupled with severe necrosis and liver damage. These livers had very low levels of virtually inactive polysomes and depicted many of the histopathological characteristics of hepatic ischemic injury known in humans to be associated with congestive heart failure. Our biochemical and histological data suggests that for the Bio 14.6 hamsters, progressive cardiomyopathy is associated with severe liver damage for only a few animals.