Instant Cirrhosis: An Improved Method for Producing Cirrhosis of the Liver in Rats by Simultaneous Administration of Carbon Tetrachloride and Phenobarbitone

An improved method for production of cirrhosis of the liver in rats is described. Rats are given CCl₄ and phenobarbitone simultaneously. The method doubles the yield of cirrhotic animals and halves the time taken for their production, in comparison with CCl₄ alone.CCl₄ inhalation results in fewer intercurrent deaths than oral dosing of CCl₄. The cirrhosis as observed histologically is accompanied by gross nodularity of the liver, splenomegaly, portal hypertension and testicular atrophy. About 50 per cent of animals have measurable ascites. Animals killed during application of the new method show that cirrhosis develops only after 4 weeks of CCl₄ dosage.