Abstract

Background/Aims
It is well known that alcohol enhances the toxicity of CCL₄. We tried to establish an alcoholic liver cirrhosis model by administration of alcohol and CCL₄ to rats. We also wanted to know the hepatoprotective effect of low doses of lipopolysaccharide(LPS) in this animal model. Methods: Of 20 female adult rats, 8 were ingested with alcohol ad libitum(group 1) Another 6 were ingested with 10% alcohol and 50% 1mL/kg CCL₄ intragastrically by Sonde twice a week(group 2) The remaining 6 were ingested with 10% alcohol, CCL₄, and 0.1mg/kg LPS intraperitoneally twice a week(group 3) The fibrosis was evaluated semiquantitatively on a scale of 0(none) to 3(cirrhosis). Results: 1) After 10 weks, septal fibrosis or cirrhosis was produced in 9 out of 12 rats in groups 2 and 3 but there was no fibrotic change in group 1. 2) There was no significant difference in pathological grading between groups 2 and 3. Conclusions: Hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis can be sufficiently induced by alcohol and repetitive CCL₄ ingestion for 10 weeks. We can not prove the hepatoprotective effect of low dose LPS by semiquantitative evaluation of pathological grading.(Korean J Hepatol 2002;8:173-178)

• Keywords: Liver fibrosis, Alcohol and CCl₄, Lipopolysaccharide