Comparative Changes in Serum Enzyme Levels in Beryllium- or Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Necrosis

Summary Four serum enzymes (ICD, GOT, GPT, LDH) and one liver enzyme (acid phosphatase) were used to evaluate the difference in the rat response to Be-induced midzonal liver necrosis and CCl4induced centrolobular necrosis. Be produced a maximum elevation of liver free acid phosphatase 8 hr after injection, but the elevation of the serum enzymes ICD, GOT, or GPT were not observed until 48 hr after Be injection. LDH was not elevated at any time period. At equivalent doses in the CCl4-injected animals, serum ICD, GOT, and GPT were all elevated by 48 hr, but no elevation of liver acid phosphatase was observed at any time period. These differences in response indicate a biochemical as well as an anatomical difference between these two types of chemically induced liver necrosis. The authors thank Mr. Lee Bland and Carl Hopper for technical assistance in this study.