The appearance of D-galactosamine-induced hepatitis and generalized edema in adrenalectomized rats.

In adrenalectomized female rats a single dose of 375 mg D-galactosamine.HCl per kg of body weight produces both hepatitis and generalized edema with ascites. These alterations depend upon the dose and the time interval after injection of the aminosugar. The effect is specific for D-galactosamine; 2-deoxy-galactose produces only edema and no hepatitis, whereas D-glucosamine and D-galactose are without any measurable effect. In male adrenalectomized animals D-galactosamine produced hepatitis alone; fluid extravasation occurs only after additional orchiectomy. Glucocorticoids given before or simultaneously with D-galactosamine are able to prevent the animals from gettin edema and to ameliorate hepatitis, while mineralcorticoids do not show any effect on these alterations. It is evident that the effects of D-galactosamine on the hepatocyte and on the endothelial cells are independent from each other. This leads to the conclusion that D-galactosamine acts at least upon two different target organs, the liver and the reticulo-endothelial system in general.