Effect of Oral Adsorbent on Animal Models of Hepatic Failure

Abstract

Effect of an orally administered adsorbent has been investigated in an animal model of hepatic failure.
A spherical carbonaceous adsorbent (AST-120), newly developed for oral administration, was used in this study.
A drop in the elevated levels of amino acids and normalization of serum protein composition have been observed after the oral adsorbent was given to the dogs with portacaval shunt. The dogs gained weight following this treatment.
Hepatitis, induced in the rats by D—galactosamine, was markedly improved by the oral adsorbent treatment from the view of histological finding of the liver and biochemical parameters, such as GOT, GPT, LDH and BIL. The abnormal peaks of serum high—speed liquid chromatograms observed in the animals of hepatic failure, also diminished. Nevertheless in our experiment the adsorbent was shown not to remove D—galactosamine.
It is concluded from these results that the adsorbent improved hepatic damage by removing hepatotoxic substances in intestinal tract.