[The effect of chenophalk on the liver function of intact animals and in experimental hepatitis]

Chenophalk (chenodeoxycholeic acid) was given to Wistar rats, including intact animals and those with chronic toxic hepatitis, in daily oral dose of 15 mg/kg body weight during 11 days. Chronic toxic hepatitis was induced by 7 subcutaneous injections of carbon tetrachloride (0.3 ml of 50% oil solution per kg body weight) each three days. Chenophalk was shown to impair bile crystallization. It enhanced demethylase activity, elevated the levels of cytochromes P-450 and b5 in the liver microsomal fraction, and decreased lipid peroxidation just after injection. The agent normalized oxygen tension in the liver tissue, which had been reduced by carbon tetrachloride. Chenophalk caused disturbances in the structure of the liver and in microcirculation early after injection, showing a tendency to normalize the histostructure of the liver.