Effects of acetaminophen on hepatic microcirculation in mice

Introduction Acetaminophen (APAP) intoxication from overdosing can result in severe hepatic damage, which is characterized by hemorrhagic centrilobular necrosis and by towering the levels of transaminase. The APAP-induced hepatic necrosis is preceded by centrilobular microvascular congestion thought to be due to collapse of the sinusoidal wall and the infiltration of blood elements into the space of Disse [1]. These findings suggest that, in addition to direct hepatocellular damage, sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) participate in liver injury elicited by APAP overdose. As a result, the present study was conducted to examine changes in hepatic microcirculation after APAP administration using in vivo microscopic methods.