The effect of fasting on galactosamine induced hepatitis in experimental animals.

Fasting prior to galactosamine treatment caused a significant modification in the liver damage in both rats and hamsters. Fasting after galactosamine treatment did not affect the course of the liver damage. Liver glycogen levels were significantly lower than normal after either fasting or galactosamine treatment in rats and after galactosamine treatment in hamsters. In rats fasted and treated with galactosamine the liver glycogen content was significantly higher than normal. A 24-h period of fasting did not cause any alteration in liver glycogen levels of hamsters.