Influence of Carbon Tetrachloride on Circulating Endotoxin after Exogenous Administration of Endotoxin in Rats

To ascertain the influence of carbon tetrachloride on the ability of the liver to remove circulating endotoxin, groups of rats were injected ip with endotoxin obtained from Escherichia coli 026 and also received carbon tetrachloride orally. The serum concentrations of endotoxin at different time intervals were measured by an immunoradiometric assay specific for the endotoxin used. It was shown that carbon tetrachloride delayed the removal of endotoxin by the liver. The effect was dependent on the dose of carbon tetrachloride given and was seen as early as 1 hr after the endotoxin injection.