A histopathological study of analgesic hepatotoxicity in rabbit.

This study of analgesic hepatotoxicity was conducted on rabbit divided into four equal groups (A—D). The group “A” served as control. The group “B” animals were administered acetylsalicylic acid (600 mg/Kg/day) orally,while group “C” animals received paracetamol (300 mg/Kg/day). The group “D” was given both the acetylsalicylic acid (300 mg/Kg/day) and paracetamol (150 mg/Kg/day). An autopsy was performed on all the animal groups at the end of 4 weeks. On gross and microscopic examination of liver sections, the control animals did not reveal any hepatic abnormality while the group “B” animals showed acute hepatitis (57%), acute cholangitis (14%) and focal necrosis (14%). The group “C” revealed acute hepatitis in 86% cases. The group “D” receiving combination of drugs showed acute hepatitis (71%) and acute cholangitis (14%). This study indicates that paracetamol is more toxic to liver as compared to acetylsalicylic acid in higher doses (JPMA 38: 41 ,1988).