Function of reticuloendothelial system on ethionine induced liver injury in mice.

Phagocytic activity as a function of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) has been studied in ethionine induced liver injury by using the carbon clearance test. Liver damage in male and female mice was induced by DL- and L-ethionine injections (1000 mg/kg/day, i.p.). In both female and male mice, a single dose or three injections of DL- or L-ethionine caused increases in liver/body weight ratio, A/G ratio, GOT and GPT levels, and BSP retention. There was the decrease of the total protein levels in the serum. The degree of liver injury was more severe after three injections of DL- and L-ethionine than after a single injection of them. After a single injection of ethionine, the L-isomer induced a slightly greater response than the racemic mixture, except for BSP retention. On the other hand, phagocytic activities by the carbon clearance test were increased after a single injection or three injections of DL- and L-ethionine. That is, the K value was increased in all ethionine treated mice except for females with three injections of DL-ethionine. The alpha value was increased after three injections in DL- and L-ethionine treated males and DL-ethionine treated females. In addition, the increase in carbon uptake by Kupffer cells can be seen by light microscopy after a single injection or three injections of DL- or L-ethionine. These findings indicate that ethionine injections induce the enhancement of RES phagocytosis, although the biochemical parameters indicating liver injury are changed severely. These results support the data indicating no correlation between the alteration of RES activity and the degree of liver injury.