Distribution of Lanthanum in the Liver and Its Effect on Hepatic Function after Intravenous Administrations of Lanthanum Chloride to the Rat.

Abstract

Lanthanum (La) in the blood enters the portal blood circulation and may be excreted into the bile. The aim of the present investigation was to investigate the effect of La on hepatic function by means of clinical chemical analysis. The histological distribution of La in the liver was also studied. Rats were intravenously administrated with lanthanum chloride at five mg La/kg per week for five weeks. ALT and γ-GTP were not elevated in the blood of the experimented rats, while AST, LDH and ALP increased. The total serum bilirubin level was not increased after La administrations. These chemical data have shown little evidence of toxic effects on hepatic parenchymal cells. Since ALP is present in the epithelial cells lining the biliary collecting system, La excreted in bile may slightly effect on these cells. Histological observation revealed the accumulation of La in the Kupffer cells lining the hepatic sinusoids, but not in hepatic parenchymal cells. No degenerated hepatic cells were found after La administrations indicating little or no La toxicity to the liver.