Effect of ethanol on Kupffer cell function.

Kupffer cells are resident macrophages in the liver and are important in both local and systemic immune responses. We evaluated the ability of Kupffer cells in vitro to respond to immune stimulation after both acute exposure to ethanol and after long-term ethanol consumption of ethanol. Triplets of female Wistar rats were fed a liquid diet containing 0, 12, or 36% ethanol isocalorically for 112 days.

Procoagulant activity and tumor necrosis factor in rat hepatic allograft rejection.

We used a model of rat hepatic allograft rejection to evaluate levels of procoagulant activity and tumor necrosis factor during acute cellular rejection. ACI livers were transplanted into Lewis rats, and Lewis-to-Lewis isografts and unoperated animals served as controls. Animals were killed on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9.