Effect of short-term carbon tetrachloride administration on blood lactic acid levels.

1. A short-term CCl4 administration was used in vivo as a model to produce a rise in lactic acid levels and to explain the probable interaction of CCl4 and lactic acid elevation with hepatic fibrogenesis. 2. A single dose of CCl4 produced an increase in lactic acid levels from 16.6 +/- 3.57 to 24.2 +/- 4.2 mg/dl. Three consecutive doses produced an elevation to 33.28 +/- 10.07 mg/dl, thus describing a direct relationship between lactic acid levels and CCl4 administration in a short-term fashion. 3. A morphological evaluation was performed to show hepatic changes caused by CCl4 administration. No clue of fibrogenesis was found. However, we conclude that an elevation in lactic acid exists, prior to cirrhosis. Therefore, chronic presence of lactic acid may lead to cirrhosis.