Fasting increases the concentrations of carbon tetrachloride and of its metabolite chloroform in the liver of mice.

Fasting mice for 24 h strongly enhanced hepatic triglyceride concentrations as well as the hepatic levels of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and chloroform (CHCl3) after i.p. injection of 0.1 ml/kg CCl4. The ratio CHCl3:CCl4 was lower in the livers of the fasted than in those of the fed mice. Fasting-induced steatosis leading to an increased affinity of the liver to a lipophilic compound like CCl4 is considered to be the cause for the increase in CCl4 hepatotoxicity induced by fasting in mice.