Biochemical pathology of fatty liver induced by inhaled carbon tetrachloride, with specific reference to ATP and lipid metabolism in the mouse liver

Cb strain female mice were exposed to 800 p.p.m. of carbon tetrachloride for 3 hours by the use of newly devised gas chamber via constant current of gas. Contents of ATP, triglyceride and total lipid in the liver were measured at appropriate intervals after inhalation of carbon tetrachloride and compared to non-treated controls. And P : 0 ratio of the liver mitochondria was measured by oxymeter and morphological changes of liver mitochondria were observed by electron microscopy. The following results were obtained. 1. ATP conten t in the liver decreased slightly immediately after inhalation, rapidly decreased until 4 hours after inhalation and gradually decreased until 20 hours after inhalation. 2. Contents of total lipids increased slightly immediately after the exposure and increased gradually until 20 hours later. Contents of triglyceride in the liver increased at almost constant rate during and after the exposure. 3. P : 0 ratio of liver mitochondria did not change immediately after the exposure and gradually increased after the exposure, keeping parallel relation to decrease in ATP content in the liver. Decrease in ATP content in the liver after inhalation of carbon tetrachloride seems to be mainly due to uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation of liver mitochondria. 4. Morphological changes of liver mitochondria were observed at 4 hours after the exposure by electron microscopy. 5. Decrease in ATP levels of the liver suggested to have a close relation to accumulation of lipid in the liver after the inhalation of carbon tetrachloride.