Effects of starvation and protein deficiency on the acute carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity

The effects of starvation and protein-deficient diet on the acute carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity of the mice were studied histologically and histochemically. A total of 69 male mice (C57BL/6) were used and carbon tetrachloride was administered by a single subcutaneous injection at a dose of 0.1 mg/10 g body weight after starvation for 24 hours and feeding with protein-deficient diet for one month. The changes were examined consecutively. It was shown the the CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity was exaggerated by starvation and that the regeneration after centrilobular necrosis due to CCl4 administration was retarded under this condition. In the CCl4-treated group on protein-deficient diet, the centrilobular liver cells seemed to be less responsive to CCl4.