ALCOHOL-INDUCED HEPATIC SINUSOIDAL ENDOTHELIAL-CELL DYSFUNCTION IN THE MOUSE IS MEDIATED BY KUPFFER CELLS

Significant increase in plasma hyaluronan level (104%) and a marked in hibition of hyaluronan uptake by the isolated, perfused liver (54%) we re seen 3 h after intraperitoneal administration of alcohol (4.4 g/kg body wt.) to mice. Intravenous administration of GdCl3 (10 mg/kg body wt.), an agent that inactivates/eliminates Kupffer cells, 24 h prior t o alcohol administration, counteracted the alcohol-induced suppression of hepatic hyaluronan uptake and diminished the alcohol effect on pla sma hyaluronan concentration, These data suggest that alcohol-induced impairment of the hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cell function is medi ated by Kupffer cells.