Hepatic damage in neonatal rat due to E. coli endotoxin.

Liver from neonatal rats injected with LD50 E. coli endotoxin was studied by light and electron microscopy. By 2 hr, there was margination and migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Single cell necrosis was seen after 8 hr. At 16 hr, there were numerous necrotic foci in the mid-zonal region of hepatic lobules, as well as accumulation of microvesicular fat. Necrosis and fatty change of hepatocytes were more extensive at 24 hr. Microvesicular fat accumulation may be related to alterations in fatty acid or oxidative metabolism. However, the pattern of mid-zonal damage in these animals is not typical of failure of oxidative metabolism and suggests that other mechanisms are involved.