Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Rat Liver Fibrosis, Pathological Features

AIM: To observe the morphologic features in various times CCl₄ induced liver fibrosis in ratsand explor it's reversible.METHODS: Rat liver fibrosis was induced by peritoneal injection of 50% CCL₁ (1ml/kgWT,twice a week ) for 8 wks. End of 8 and 12 wks, the biochemical parameters(ALT,AST,ALP,TC,TP,TB) , ratio of liver/body weight and area of collageneous fiber weredetermined, liver pathological changes was observed, and expression of ED1 and α -SMA wasdetected by SP immunohistochemical method.RESULTS Compared with the control group, the levels of ALT,AST ALP,TB in serum, ratio ofliver/body weigh and areas of collageneous fiber were significantly increased (P<0.01), thediffuse cirrhosis was observed in most rats and the ED1 and α -SMA positive cells wereprominently aggregate in the fibrotic tissue and septa on 8 wk in model group. On 12 wk inmodel group, the ALT was still higher, the areas of collageneous fiber was significantlydecreased, partial cirrhosis was observed in most rats, the ED1 positive cells was reduced and α-SMA positive cells was disappeared in fibrotic tissue and septa.CONCLUTION CCl₄ treatment induced obviously liver disfunction and diffuse cirrhosis inrats on 8 wks, distribution of KC and HSC showed that KC was closely associated withactivation of HSC.After stopping CCL₄ injection 4 wks, the collagenous fiber was reduced andliver fibrosis abated.Our results showed that CCL₄ induced liver fibrosis can reversible afterstopping poison.