CHRONIC EFFECTS OF SOME DRUGS ON HISTOPATHOLOGY AND LIPID-CONTENT OF LIVER IN RABBITS

The histological changes in the liver, kidney and heart of rabbits fed normal diets were observed after daily injection of ACTH, salicylate and heparin for 8 days. No significant changes were seen in kidney and heart, but ACTH caused infiltration of fat in isolated parenchymal cells and marked glycogen depletion around the central vein. Neither heparin nor salicylate caused glycogen depletion and fat infiltration in hepatocytes, but ACTH administration with either of these drugs resulted in early fatty changes and glycogen depletion in liver. Acute inflammatory lesions produced by these drugs were markedly noted. Swollen hepatocytes were also observed as a result of treatment with these drugs. The adipokinetic effect was seen in these animals as due to ACTH only. These histological results agree well with the lipid (triglyceride, cholesterol, phospholipids) values of liver.