Effects of dietary protein level on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats

Abstract

Groups of 25 rats were fed either 0, 3, 10, 20, or 40% protein diets for 2 weeks and then given a single po dose of either 0, 0.15, or 0.75 ml/kg of carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ). There was a larger increase in the activity of ornithine carbamyl transferase, glutamic dehydrogenase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, fructose-1-phosphate aldolase and glutamicpyruvic transaminase in plasma from CCl 4 -dosed rats fed protein-free diets than those fed 10% protein diets. The increase in the activity of GPT in plasma was larger for rats fed 40% protein diets than for those fed 10% protein diets. Centrilobular necrosis was most extensive in the liver of rats fed the protein-free diet; in rats dosed with 0.75 ml/kg, there was more liver necrosis in groups fed 0 and 40% protein diets. Rats fed 0 or 3% protein diets and dosed with CCl 4 had fewer large liver cells with hydropic degeneration than those fed higher protein diets. The group fed the protein-free diet had the fewest number of large lipid droplets. Considering all the results, the rats fed 0, 3, and 40% protein diets appeared to be more susceptible to the toxic effects of CCl 4 .