Antimicrobial agents in the prevention of dietary hepatic injury (necrosis, cirrhosis) in rats.

The effect of various antimicrobial agents, such as aureomycin, terramycin, streptomycin, chloromycetin, penicillin, polymyxin, and sulfaguanidine on the development of massive dietary necrosis of the liver in rats has been studied. Delay in the production of hepatic necrosis was obtained from aureomycin and, to a lesser extent, from terramycin and streptomycin. Indication of temporary protection was shown by sulfaguanidine, whereas chloromycetin, polymyxin, and penicillin were not protective. B(12), added alone, or in combination with aureomycin, to the basal experimental diet had no influence on the development of hepatic necrosis. A combination of pectin with streptomycin enhanced the protective effect of the antibiotic. All the antimicrobial agents tested, without relation to their effect on hepatic necrosis, produced temporary stimulation of growth in the experimental animals. The beneficial effect of aureomycin was not limited to the delay of hepatic necrosis but manifested itself also in the prevention of hepatic cirrhosis in rats fed a low protein (casein)-high fat diet. In contrast to control animals showing the usual combination of cirrhosis and renal changes, the rats receiving supplements of aureomycin were free of both cirrhosis and renal changes. The rats receiving aureomycin took more food in and gained weight. No microscopic alterations were seen in the pancreas of the control rats with cirrhosis. In both groups of experiments (necrosis and cirrhosis) the antimicrobial agents, with the exception of penicillin, were given mixed with the food. Their possible effect on the intestinal flora is discussed.