THE PATHOLOGY OF LIVER-INJURY INDUCED BY THE CHRONIC ADMINISTRATION OF ALCOHOL AND LOW-DOSE CARBON-TETRACHLORIDE IN PORTON RATS

We have previously established a model for micronodular cirrhosis by f eeding Wistar rats alcohol, in the Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet, and exp osing them to 'low-dose' carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) vapour for 10 wee ks. This study reports the spectrum of liver pathology seen in male Po rton rats exposed to 'low-dose' CCl4 vapour 5 nights/week, 6 h/night w hile being fed alcohol (300 kcal/L) in the Lieber-DeCarli diet. Micron odular cirrhosis developed in all animals after 5-7 weeks of treatment . The simultaneous administration of silymarin, a putative hepatoprote ctive agent, in the liquid diet, did not alleviate or prevent the chro nic liver injury. The histopathological features of the liver injury a re described, with particular emphasis on the presence of small epithe lial cells ('progenitor or stem cell'), which appear to be playing a r ole in liver regeneration.