Clinical and Experimental Studies on Hepatic Disturbances due to Congestive Heart Failure

Part II. Experimental Observation

Abstract

Eighty-nine rabbits weighing about 3Kg were employed. Introduction of talcum powder and slices of sponge into the pericardium of the animals resulted in constrictive pericarditis, which was complicated with congestive heart failure following the intake of salt and the loading with physical exertion. These animals were observed for 112 days postoperatively, as to serum bilirubin, protein fraction, colloidal reactions, ALP, ACP, ChE, GOT, GPT, G6P, ALD, PHI and LDH activities. In the meantime studies were made of enzymatic activities in the serum, liver tissue and myocardium, in reference to histological findings of liver tissue.
1) About a week postoperatively there were observed an increase in total bilirubin and in direct bilirubin and a decrease in total protein, about seven weeks postoperatively abnormalities of cobalt reaction were observed.
2) Regarding serum enzymatic activities, about a week postoperatively a marked increse was observed in glycolytic enzymes, transaminases especially G6P and LDH. Four-five weeks postoperatively the increase temporarily returned to normal, but again showed a slight increase about 10 weeks postoperatively.
3) Enzymatic activities in the liver and the myocardium decreased about a week postoperatively, reaching nearly a normal range about four weeks postoperatively followed by a decrease again about ten weeks postoperatively. Thus they showed a mirror image relationship with serum enzymatic activities.
4) Liver tissue findings showed acute liver congestion about a week postoperatively, revealing an increasing cellular vacuolization about four weeks postoperatively, followed by a proliferation of the connective tissue of the central lobule in some cases 16 weeks postoperatively.