Experimental production of Mallory bodies in mice by diet containing 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine.

The first experimental production of Mallory bodies was reported by Denk et al. in 1975 in mice fed griseofulvin. We discovered a second chemical capable of producing Mallory bodies in the mouse liver in a manner similar to griseofulvin. Male Swiss albino mice were fed a powdered standard diet containing 2.5% of 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine up to 95 days. The animals were killed at intervals and their livers were examined by light and electron microscopy. In general, the morphologic changes in the liver were similar to, but more marked than, those seen in griseofulvin-fed mice. Mallory bodies were first observed in the livers of mice killed at 40 days. In our previous experiment using griseofulvin, we first observed Mallory bodies in mice killed at 61 days. These observations suggest that 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine may be more effective than griseofulvin in the production of Mallory bodies in mice.