An improved method for production of cirrhosis of the liver in rats is described. Rats are given CCl4 and phenobarbitone simultaneously. The method doubles the yield of cirrhotic animals and halves the time taken for their production, in comparison with CCl4 alone.
CCl4 inhalation results in fewer intercurrent deaths than oral dosing of CCl4. The cirrhosis as observed histologically is accompanied by gross nodularity of the liver, splenomegaly, portal hypertension and testicular atrophy. About 50 per cent of animals have measurable ascites. Animals killed during application of the new method show that cirrhosis develops only after 4 weeks of CCl4 dosage.