Effect of cortisone on the behavior of serotonin, 5-hydroxy-indoloacetic acid and monoaminooxidase in the liver tissue, the blood and the urine in experimental rabbit liver injury with CCl4.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cortisone on the behavior of serotonin metabolism indicators in experiments carried out in rabbits. The following parameters were determined: the level of serotonin (5-hydroxy-tryptamine), (5-HT) in liver tissue and blood, the activity of monoamino-oxidase (MAO) in liver tissue and serum, and the level of 5-hydroxy-indoloacetic acid (5-HIAA) in liver tissue and in 24-hour urine of 52 rabbits. The experimental model involved acute liver injury with carbon tetrachloride--CCl4 and the effect of exogenous cortisone on the behavior of the above-mentioned indicators. On the basis of the experimental findings the authors demonstrate a dependence of serotonin metabolism on the liver injury, and an absence of normalization of the estimated parameters after cortisone administration.