The galactose elimination capacity as a quantitative measure of liver function in acute carbon tetrachloride intoxication of rats.

In rats given rising single doses of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intragastrically the relation between dose and mortality, between time after injection and the quantitative liver function measured by the galactose elimination capacity (GEC), and between the dose and the GEC, was examined. The change in hepatic contents of galactose metabolites after CCl4 was measured. There was a linear relation between the dose and mortality. No rat died later than 36 h after injection. Following injection of a dose lethal to 15% of rats the GEC fell to 40% of control after 36 h and was normalized after 72 h. There was a dose dependent decrease in the GEC with rising doses given 36 h earlier up to a dose lethal to 15%. Galactose metabolites other than UDP-galactose, which was decreased, were not affected by CCl4, suggesting a general enzyme depression. The results are compatible with the concept of proportionality between the GEC and 'the functioning liver mass' and indicate that the GEC presents prognostically valuable information during acute hepatic insufficiency.