Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate fatty liver in Korean black goats. Adult female goats were divided into 3 test groups(A, B and C). Group A and B of goats each received 3 test consecutive daily doses of DL-ethionine at 75mg/kg and 150mg/kg body weight, respectively. Group C of goats was given 3 consecutive doses of the compound every 48 hours at 150mg/kg body weight. The clinical symptoms, hematological values, serum chemical values and histopathological study of the liver were investigated in the test animals. The results obtained are as follows ; 1. Fatty liver were observed in every test animal. 2. Some clinical symptoms( anorexia, depression) were appeared from 1st day to 7th day after administration of the compound in every test animal. In addition to these symptoms, diarrhea and salivation were generally observed in test animals which were given the compound at 150mg/kg body weight. The degree of these symptoms was dose dependent. 3. There was no significant variations in total WBC counts and fibrinogen values in the blood of test goats. The PCV values were significantly increased on 5th day of dosing in group A and B of goats. 4. The total lipid value was not changed but the concentration of NEFA was significantly increased on 3rd day of dosing with the compound and returned to normal value after 10 days hereafter. The value of triglycerides was significantly increased on 1st day and returned to normal value on 3rd day of dosing. The value of cholesterol was significantly decreased on 3rd day and returned to normal value on 10th day after treatment. 5. Total protein level was decreased on 10th day of dosing in the groups of B and C, and billirubin level was significantly increased on 7th day of dosing in every test group and returned to normal level after 13th day of administration. 6. The activity of GGT in serum was not changed while the activities of SDH and AST were significantly increased in every test goat and those values were returned to normal after 10~13th day of trestment. 7 The 35K-protein fraction in serum was not detected by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, but this protein fraction was detected by the same method after treating the 21st and 22nd fraction which were obtained by column chromatography with Sephadex G-100. 8. The affected liver was congested and swollen on 3rd day, and yellowish brown in color and mottled appearance on 7th day of treatment. Histopathologically, fat droplets were common in the hepatocytes, this change was intensive on 7th day after treatment in group B and C. Hepatic cell necrosis was observed in some livers but this pathological change was disappeared and returned to normal after 13 days of treatment.

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