[Morphologic investigations on the toxicity of orally applied CDCA in the liver, gastro intestinal tract, kidney and adrenal gland of the rat (author's transl)].

Light- and electron microscopic alterations of the liver and light microscopic findings in the gastro intestinal tract, the kidney and adrenal gland of 80 female Wistar-Rats under CDCA therapy are reported. CDCA was applied by means of an endopharnygeal tube over a period of 60 days in doses of 150, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight. The organs were examined at different times. We compared the achieved findings to results obtained already beforehand by light- and electron microscopy after application of 20, 50 and 90 mg/kg body weight and day: Up to a dosage of 90 mg/kg morphological changes of the liver were only visible electron optically, from 150 mg/kg onward they could be seen light optically as well. After 60 days a cirrhosis-like picture had developed. The lethal dose was established at 1000 mg/kg. There were no pathological alterations in the gastrointestinal tract and no definite ones in the kidneys. The adrenal glands were unchanged.--Since there are in the rats, in spite of potent mechanisms of detoxication of CDCA and LCA, even at low doses morphological alterations to be seen, the existence of other toxic, at this moment still unknown metabolites is being discussed.