RESUMO
Objective The aim of this study was to establish a mouse model of chronic hepatic injury induced by low dose carbon tetrachloride ( CCl4 ) .Methods Twenty SPF male B/C mice ( body weight 18-20 g) were randomly di-vided into three groups including the CCl 4-treated group , oil-treated group and non-treated control group ( n=5/group ) . Mice in the CCl4-treated group were intraperitoneally injected with 0.5% CCl4 prepared in oil.Mice in the oil group re-ceived intraperitoneal injection of oil .Mice in the non-treated control group were left untreated .After 6 weeks, the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured, as well structure, cellular morphology and degree of fibrosis of the hepatic tissues were examined by histology with HE and Masson staining .Results After low dose CCL4 treatment, the serum ALT and AST were significantly increased (P =0.00).Histology with HE stai-ning showed extensive vacuolar degeneration of hepatic epithelial cells and large number of necrotic foci .Histology with Masson staining revealed fibrous hyperplasia mainly located around hepatic lobules .Quantitative analysis of the fibrosis showed that the degree of fibrosis and the integrated optical density of fibrosis were significantly increased after CCl 4 induc-tion( P=0.00) .Conclusion Low dose carbon tetrachloride can induce hepatic injury in B /C mouse models presenting pathological changes of hepatic injury and fibrosis .
