Effect of Methionine upon Ethionine Intoxication of the Rat.

Abstract

Summary Liver cell injury of subacute ethionine intoxication of the rat is accentuated by rising ethionine levels in the diet. Methionine supplements have an increasingly inhibitory effect depending on concentration. That effects of even high levels of ethionine may be almost completely eliminated by high methionine levels speaks for the role of ethionine as a metabolic competitor of methionine rather than as a primary toxic agent. Methionine inhibits ductular cell proliferation much more effectively than the injury to hepatic cells, thus dissociating both lesions. Ductular cell proliferation and fiber formation run parallel. The authors are very grateful to Helene Tzitsikas and Roy Dube, Kenneth Thompson, and Jim Matthias for technical assistance.