HEPATIC STIMULATOR SUBSTANCE ADMINISTRATION AFFECTS CADMIUM-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN THE RAT

The effect of hepatic stimulator substance (HSS) administration on cad mium (Cd) induced hepatotoxicity was studied in the rat. HSS was extra cted from the liver of weanling rats (Hepatology 1985; 7: 100-106). Ra ts were injected with 2.5 mg CdCl2/kg body weight to induce acute live r injury, evaluated 24 h later. Serum enzyme activities of alanine ami notransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and histological parameters were used for the estimation of Cd-induced hepatotoxicity. HSS, at doses of 10, 20 and 30 mg protein/kg body weight, injected 10 h after Cd administration, caused dose-dependent decrease of hepatic injury. HSS suppressed the elevation of AST and ALT induced by Cat in a dose-dependent manner. Liver histological changes indicated that HSS reduced the severity of hepatic lesion induced by Cd administration a nd reversed Cd-induced hepatotoxicity. In conclusion, our results sugg est that HSS administration protects the liver against Cd-induced inju ry.