Sex differences in the susceptibility of rats to carbon tetrachloride-alcohol-induced liver injury

Abstract

Treatment of male and female rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄, twice weekly, 0.2 ml/kg p.o.) and a 5% alcohol solution during four weeks evoked strong increments of the serum enzyme activities of the aminotransferases (GOT, GPT) and the sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH). These occurred earlier and were more pronounced in male compared to female rats. Hepatic triglyceride contens as a measure of fatty infiltration was augmented three-fold both in males and females at the end of the experiment. Hepatic hydroxyproline contents were enhanced seven-fold in males, but only two-fold in females. It is concluded that female rats are less susceptible to CCl₄-alcohol-induced liver damage, especially hydroxyproline accumulation which is explained by the known fact that females are more resistant against CCL₄-hepatotoxicity as a consequence of a minor role of bioactivation in the metabolic degradation of CCO₄ by females.