Endotoxin Susceptibility Following Hepatic Injury by Carbon Tetrachloride

Abstract

Summary Guinea pigs are abnormally susceptible to endotoxin during the stage of hepatic necrosis following a sublethal dose of CCl_4. CCl₄-damaged liver possesses little en-dotoxin-detoxifying activity in vitro as compared with normal liver. After hepatic regeneration has taken place liver tissue is again able to detoxify endotoxin, and the animals are again resistant to endotoxin. CCl₄-treated animals show slight impairment in clearance of injected carbon particles from the blood, probably because of diminished removal by the liver, but no evidence of adrenal insufficiency.