[Pathogenetic significance of endothelin in experimental liver necrosis].

The changes in rat plasma level of endothelin-ir (ET-ir) during CCl4-induced hepatic necrosis and the therapeutic action of ET-antiserum (ET-Ab) were observed. The plasma level of ET-ir in rats with liver necrosis was significantly elevated (17.7 +/- 2.6 ng/L vs control 9.5 +/- 1.6 ng/L, P < 0.05). The plasma level of ET was markedly decreased by using ET-Ab, simultaneously the calcium overload in liver attenuated, the formation of liver lipid peroxidation product decreased, and activities of plasma ALT and LDH were also reduced. The results indicate that ET-Ab effectively alleviated the CCl4-induced damage to liver, and suggest that ET might be one of important humoral factors involved in liver necrosis.