Plasma protein determination as a clinical probe for liver injury in rats induced by thioacetamide, alloxan or ixoten.

As a result of traumata, cancer or chemical poisoning the level of acute-phase proteins released by the liver undergoes a significant change which can be measured by two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis. To investigate whether inflammatory reactions following chemical poisoning, tissue necrosis or other treatments result in an uniform change of the plasma protein profile, we examined quantitatively the change in plasma protein profile in the following model situations: 1) alloxan-induced diabetes in rats, 2) thioacetamide-induced liver cirrhosis and 3) ixoten-induced blocking of DNA synthesis in rat liver. Even though the three agents used in the present study or their metabolites directly interacted with liver cells, they did not evoke a uniform change of the plasma protein profile.