A STUDY OF FREE RADICAL INJURY TO VITAL ORGANS

The study of toxicities which are caused by free radical inducing chemicals (e.g., carbon tetrachloride), helps to determine the mode of action of those important drugs which act by inhibiting free radicals. Evaluation of toxicities induced by carbon tetrachloride and phenobarbitone administration was carried out in seventy healthy male rabbits. Each animal received CCI4 0.25-0.5 mL/kg body weight, intraperitoneally, twice weekly for eleven doses. During this period, the only water which was provided for drinking to these animals contained 0.25 g/L pentobarbitone. Examination of these animals revealed that carbon tetrachloride produced severe liver and kidney injuries which could be assessed by physical parameters, liver and kidney function tests, and microscopic .examinations of the vital organs of these aninlals.