Peritoneoscopic study on rat liver cell necrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride and allyl formate.

The surface changes of acute centrolobular and perilobular necrosis were studied in rat liver using peritoneoscopy. Centrolobular necrosis as induced by carbon tetrachloride and perilobular necrosis by allyl formate. Vessels observed on the control rat liver surface were identified as terminal hepatic veins by irrigation of the hepatic vein with a barium solution. Polygonal whitish markings were observed on the liver surface 48 hours after carbon tetrachloride administration. Terminal hepatic veins were regularly distributed throughout the central portions of the whitish areas. Reddish spots about 0.1 mm in diameter were scattered about the terminal hepatic veins. The reddish spots and whitish areas corresponded to the histological findings of central liver cell necrosis and infiltration by Kupffer and white blood cells. Six hours after allyl formate administration, round reddish spots about 0.3 mm in diameter were regularly distributed on the liver surface among the terminal hepatic veins. These spots corresponded to the histological findings of liver cell necrosis around the portal area. In summary, acute centrolobular and perilobular liver cell necrosis were newly observed as reddish spots by peritoneoscopy.