Influence of aging on the susceptibility of rats to hepatotoxic injury.

The effects of allyl alcohol, galactosamine, bromobenzene, and corn oil administration were evaluated in male Fischer 344 rats at 4 to 5, 14 to 15, and 24 to 25 months of age to determine if susceptibility to hepatotoxic injury is modified as a consequence of aging. Parameters measured were (1) severity of hepatocellular necrosis as judged by light microscopy of liver sections, (2) activity of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in serum, and (3) hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 content and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activity. Allyl alcohol toxicity was more severe in middle-aged and old rats than in young-adult rats. In contrast, galactosamine and bromobenzene toxicities were slightly decreased or unchanged in old rats. The results demonstrate that aging has effects on some types of chemically induced hepatotoxicity.