Function of Reticuloendothelial System on CCl₄ Induced Liver Injury in Mice

Abstract

Phagocytic activity as a function of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) has been studied in CCl₄-induced liver injury by using the carbon clearance test. Liver damage in mice was induced by administration of 20% CCl₄ in olive oil (p.o.). After a single administration of CCl₄, significant increases in liver/body weight ratio, serum GOT and GPT levels, α, β and γ-globulins and BSP retention, and decreases in serum albumin, an activity of the hepaplastintest and the correct phagocytic activity, α value, were found. After 15 administrations of CCl₄ (3 times a week), mild increases in serum GPT level and BSP retention and decreases in the activity of the hepaplastintest and both phagocytic indices, K and α values, were observed. However, zymosan treatment 3 days before sacrifice induced an increase in K value depressed by multiple administrations of CCl₄. The depression of carbon uptake by Kupffer cells can be seen by light microscopy after multiple administrations of CCl₄ compared with that of saline and olive oil. These findings indicate that the RES phagocytosis is suppressed more strongly in chronic liver injury by 15 CCl₄ administrations than in acute injury by a single one, although the biochemical parameters indicating liver injury are shown to have an opposite tendency. A clear correlation between the alteration of RES activity and the degree of liver injury was not noted.