Toxic effect of carbon tetrachloride on the liver cell.

Rats and mice were given injections of carbon tetrachloride into the portal vein or into the spleen, and the localization of the resulting hepatocellular lesions was studied. In contrast to some statements in the literature, and confirming some older reports, damage was found to be limited to the periportal areas. A range of changes leading to cell necrosis was found, which was frequently associated with pronounced vasodilatation. These features were considered to be evidence in favour of a direct hepatotoxic effect of carbon tetrachloride, and are difficult to reconcile with the view, formulated again recently by some workers, that carbon tetrachloride acts indirectly on the liver cell by producing vasoconstriction.