We evaluated the rat cirrhosis model obtained by repeated intraperitoneal administration of CCl4 (group C) with regard to biological and nutritional conditions in comparison to ad libitum (group AL) and pair-fed control rats. Cirrhotic rats were divided into two groups according to their clinical condition: group C1 (n = 4) represented those in good physical condition and group C2 those (n = 10) in poor physical condition. Autopsy indicated that rats in group C2 suffered from severe malnutrition as judged by body weight, carcass weight and the carcass/body weight ratio. However, all 14 treated rats presented the same micronodular cirrhosis and the same alterations in liver function, except for alkaline phosphatase activity (group C1: 110 ± 63 IU/1, group C2: 259 ± 110 IU/1; p < 0.05). In the cirrhosis groups, plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and the BCAA/aromatic amino acid (AAA) ratio were significantly reduced, but values in groups Cl and C2 were not significantly different (BCAA/AAA: 1.9 ± 0.9 in group C1, 1.5 ± 0.8 in group C2, 2.8 ± 0.3 in group AL; C1 and C2, vs. AL: p < 0.05). These alterations were similar to those observed in human cirrhosis and were not solely the result of reduced food intake, as indicated by the lack of difference between pair-fed and ad libitum-fed control rats.

Keywords:
Cirrhosis, Carbon tetrachloride, Branched-chain amino acids, Nitrogen status
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© 1994 S. Karger AG, Basel
1994
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