A Pathological Study on Chloramphenicol-Induced Hepatopathy in Mice

Abstract

Pathology of the liver cell injury was studied on the 216 ddy mice after single oral administration of chloramphenicol in a dose of 50mg (group 1) or continuative administration of 50mg a day for 15 days (group 2). The changes induced in the liver were more severe in group 2, in which there occurred cristolysis and mitochondriolysis. Around the mitochondria adjacent to the nucleus of the liver cell, there was parallel proliferation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum as well as marked increase in ramifying smooth endoplasmic reticulum. In certain places, the continuity of the rough endoplasmic reticulum to the smooth endoplasmic reticulum became evident. In gorup 2, furtheremore, small regenerated mitochondria with dense matrix appeared in addition to megamitochondria and irregular shaped mitochondria on the day 8 or later on. Then, the value of P/O ratio, respiratory control index and succinate dehydrogenase activity was decreased. The results have indicated that the deformed mitochondria, manifested during the regeneration process, function poorly in the energy production. An increase in number of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and of the peroxisome can be regarded as the morphological indices in the detoxication process of chloramphenicol. It has been suggested conclusively that continuative administration of chloramphnicol can cause a severe deterioration in the function of liver.