Hepatic sinusoidal cell destruction in the development of intravascular coagulation in acute liver failure of rats

Abstract

Rats received a dose of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) or carbon tetrachlonde (CCl₄). In the liver of rats given DMN, apoptosis of fat‐storing cells occurred at 7.5 h, and sinusoidal endothelial cell degeneration followed, with parenchymal cell necrosis after 9 h. Fibrin thrombi appeared in the sinusoids as well as in these necrotic areas after 12h. In contrast, in the liver of rats given CCl₄, parenchymal cell degeneration was seen after 6 h and necrosis with fibrin thrombi developed after 9 h. Fat‐storing cells and endothelial cells were almost intact, and fibrin thrombi were not present in the sinusoids. SGPT values increased with decreased plasma levels of fibrinogen and antithrombin III and prolonged prothrombin time after 3 and 6 h, in the CC1₄ and DMN models, respectively. An extensive reduction in plasma factor VIIIC levels and peripheral platelets was seen after 18 and 24 h, respectively, only in the DMN model. These results suggest that endothelial cells destruction can cause fibrin formation in the hepatic sinusoids in acute liver injury. Fatstoring cell injury may contribute to the destruction.