THE EFFECT OF CHEMICAL SYMPATHECTOMY ON ACUTE LIVER-INJURY INDUCED BYCARBON-TETRACHLORIDE IN SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

The effects of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4)-induced acute liver injury were examined in spontaneously hypertens ive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Plasma glutam ate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) activity was increased in both strains after one dose of CCl4 administration, although the increase was more significant in SHR than in WKY. Pretreatment with 6-OHDA inhibited th e increase in GPT activity after CCl4 administration in both strains a nd especially in SHR. 6-OHDA also reduced the noradrenaline (NA) conte nt of the liver and increased the hepatic blood flow in both strains. It caused a greater decrease in blood pressure in SHR than in WKY. The results suggest that 6-OHDA blocks the sympathetic neural activity in the liver, resulting in vasodilatation and increase in hepatic blood flow and thereby alleviating the circulatory disturbance produced by C Cl4 preventing acute liver damage, especially in SHR.