PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF DANTROLENE SODIUM ON CARBON-TETRACHLORIDE INDUCED LIVER-INJURY IN THE RAT

The effect of dantrolene sodium on liver injury induced by CCl4 was in vestigated in the rat. Liver microsomal P-450 and bs levels, serum tri iodothyronine levels (T3), and alanine aminotransferase activity (ALT) were measured over 4 to 16 h after CCl4 (0.2 ml/kg, s.c.) administrat ion. Serum ALT rose following CCl4 administration, while liver cytochr ome P-450 and b5 levels and serum T3 which reflects the liver microsom al thyroxine-5'-deiodinase activity (1) fell. Intraperitoneal administ ration of dantrolene sodium (5 mg/kg), 1 h before CCl4 s.c., suppresse d CCl4-induced elevation of the serum ALT significantly. However, leve ls of P-450, b5, and serum T3 were not significantly different between dantrolene-treated and untreated groups. These results suggest that d antrolene sodium has a protective effect on CCl4-induced liver injury through a mechanism unrelated to these liver microsomal functions.