ABSTRACT
The leakage of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase ( GPT ) in the supernatant of primary cultures of rat hepatocytes has been used to evaluate the toxicity of the classical hepatotoxin carbon tetrachloride ( CC14 ) . The response of the isolated hepatocyte's preparation to incubate with CCl4 showed a clear dose dependency from 5 to 20 ml/ L in this system and the toxicity increased -with time of incubation. Glycyrrhizin ( 100mg/L ) and sodium caffeic acid 10 to 100 mg/L remarkably reduced GPT release in the medium of hepatocytes with CC14 while Bupleurum kunmingense polysaccharides had no significant effect at the same condition. Glycyrrhizin and caffeic acid might have protective effects against CC14. Further study is necessary. These findings also indicated that the primary cultures of rat hepatocytes is a suitable system for evaluating liver protective drugs as well as studying the function of cell metabolism.