Establishment of liver cancer model based on liver cirrhosis in rats

AIM: To investigate one method of establishing liver cancer model based on liver cirrhosis in rats. METHODS: Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups, control group and experimental group. The former (n=30) were injected sc with olive oil solution (3 μL/g) and fed ordinary diet and water; the latter (n=30) were treated with CCl4 and drinkable alcohol to induce liver cancer medel. The changes of body mass, mortality, formation rates of liver cirrhosis false lobe and liver cancer in the 2 groups were observed. RESULTS: After being induced with above methods for 6 weeks, in control group, the body mass of rats increased significantly but the mortality, liver cirrhosis false lobe, liver cancer were not observed. In experimental group, the body mass of rats increased slowly and the formation rate of liver cirrhosis false lobe was 90% at the end of 12 weeks; after induction for 4 weeks, formation rate of liver cancer was 40%; the mortality of the rats was 10% during the experiment. CONCLUSION: Liver cirrhosis model of rat can be successfully induced by CCl4 and drinkable alcohol and some liver cancer models can be induced by prolonged induction time.