A possible role of parasympathetic nervous system in the development of fatty liver produced by the administration of carbon tetrachloride was investigated in rats. The fatty infiltration of liver and the increase in plasma-free fatty acids (FFA), which were observed after the administration of CCl
4, were markedly potentiated by the pretreatment of rats with atropine. The treatment of rats with eserine or S-6 (1-methyl-5-chloroindoline methobromide), a parasympathomimetic drug, slightly inhibited the fatty liver prduced by CCl
4. The mobilization of FFA induced by CCl
4 was also enhanced by bilateral vagotomy. The potentiating effect of atropine on CCl
4-induced fatty liver and mobilization of FFA was not observed in reserpinized or adrenalectomized rats. When adrenalectomized rats were treated previously with hydrocortisone, the potentiating effect of atropine on fatty liver was again observed. It is concluded from these results that atropine potentiates the fatty liver induced by CCl
4 in rats only when their sympathetic nervous function in adipose tissues is intact. Furthermore, it is suggested that both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are intimately connected with the release of FFA induced by CCl
4, and both nerves have mutually antagonistic functions.
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