The role of calcium in liver cell damage. Comparative studies with carbon tetrachloride and D-galactosamine.

Female rats treated with D-galactosamine showed increased serum enzyme levels of lactate dehydrogenase, alanine transaminase and sorbitol dehydrogenase as well as moderately elevated liver calcium and decreased potassium contents 4 and 8 hours after drug administration. Slightly but significantly more calcium was sequestered in the liver when the animals were additionally pretreated with vitamin D3, while the other investigated factors were not altered by this treatment. A different pattern was found in carbon-tetrachloride-induced liver lesion. Liver calcium levels were also raised when animals with carbon tetrachloride were pretreated with vitamin D3, but in contrast to D-galactosamine injury, liver enzyme release and electrolyte shift were markedly inhibited under these conditions. Together with previously reported results these findings support our concept that an early rise in liver cell calcium content with a related protective effect is a specific phenomenon in carbon-tetrachloride-induced liver cell damage.