Effect of sodium taurine N-carbodithioate on acute experimental hepatic injury induced in rats by carbon tetrachloride.

In the previous report (1) from our laboratory, a series of dithiocarbamate derivatives have been demonstrated to have a potent protective effect against experimental hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CC].) in rats, and relationship between the chemi cal structures and their biologically activity has been described with respect to plasma transaminase levels. In this paper, with the purpose of investigating the action mechanism of these dithio carbamate compounds, sodium taurine N-carbodithioate (TDT) was chosen as a typical dithiocarbamate, and correlations between the hepatoprotective effect of this compound and its administration route, dose, and time were studied in terms of plasma transaminase levels (p-GPT and p-GOT) and microscopical findings of liver cells. In addition, in fluences of this compound, when administered to rats before or after CCI4 poisoning, on the developmental or recovery processes of the hepatic injury, were also studied, employing p-GPT levels, liver lipid contents, and histological findings as indices to evaluate the degree of the liver lesions.