[Effect of glucocorticoids on alpha-fetoprotein synthesis and liver structure in mice acutely poisoned with carbon tetrachloride].

Experiments on male C57BL mice demonstrated that the CCl4 inhalation for 15 minutes in a concentration of 0.05 ml to 4 l of air caused deep dystrophic lesions of the liver with the signs of necrobiosis. The signs of regeneration and cellular infiltration appeared almost in 24 hours accompanied by the secretion of alpha-fetoprotein into the blood. The foci of necrobiosis disappeared completely in 4 days, being replaced by the lymphoid cells with large hepatocytes in the circumference. In the animals given hydrocortisone (20 mg/kg) or dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) for therapeutic or prophylactic purpose the regenerative processes were decreased, and the number of animals producing alpha-fetoproteins fell from 92 to 60--65%.