Histochemistry of the liver in experimentally induced veno-occlusive disease - abstract

ABSTRACT

Ingestion of the herb Crotolaria fulva in the form of a bush tea is believe to cause veno-occlusive disease of the liver. The mechanism by which the herb exerts its deleterious effects is poorly understood. The present histochemical investigation was undertaken inorder to correlate biochemical distrubances with liver lesions. Extensive haemorrhagic necrosis and veno-vascular changes were induced in rat liver after intragastric administration of fulvine, the toxic alkaloidal constituent of Crotolaria fulva. Glycogen loss was marked in all regions of the liver lobule. Lipid droplets were seen widely distributed in the parenchymal cells. The activity of cytochrome oxidase and succinate dehydrogenase was decreased The activity of glutamate dehydrogenase was increased. The activity of glucose-6-phosphatase was moderately increased in the peripheral zone of the lobule, but comparatively weaker in the central region. The activity of acid phosphatase and non-specific esterase showed a moderate increase in all experiments. Alkaline phosphatase gave a comparatively stronger reaction. The activity of ATP'ase was moderately reduced. These differences in hepatic enzyme activities suggest functional impairment of the cell membrane, mitochondria, lysosomes and endoplasmatic reticulum of the liver cells. It might be postulated that the cells of the liver parenchyma are primarily damaged in veno-occlusive disease of the liver (AU)