Tannic acid intoxication in sheep and mice

Acute tannic acid intoxication was studied in mice and sheep. In mice, following oral administration of 2·0 to 4·6 g of tannic acid kg −1 bodyweight, periacinar coagulative and haemorrhagic necrosis occurred in the liver. In sheep, following oral (8 g kg −1 bodyweight) administration of tannic acid, liver necrosis was not observed either histologically or detected biochemically, although transmission electron microscopy showed focal hepatocefular necrosis, steatosis and acicular crystal cleft formation. In sheep given tannic acid intraperitoneally (0·1 g kg −1 bodyweight), liver necrosis occurred and plasma sodium and glucose levels significantly (P