Abstract

Hepatic toxic injuries were induced in young male rats by subcutaneous injection of Cantharidin and their histologic characteristics were summarized as follows ; 1) diffuse swelling of hepatocytes, periportal hepatocullular necrosis with smudging and degranulation of cytoplasms in addition to focal spotty necrosis. 2) portal vein dilatation with swelling of its endothelial cells and leucocytic margination, accompanied by periportal congestion, portal exudation and hemorrhage. With the above histologic features, the main toxic mechanisms of Cantharidin to the liver may be deduced as mixtures of vascular factor and direct toxic effect to the hepatocytes.