[Changes in the activities of antigen-nonspecific helper and suppressor cells in rabbits after carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage].

The peripheral blood helper and suppressor T cell activity in rabbits was studied by the method of concanavalin A-induced mitogenesis. Blood lymphocytes were stimulated in vitro with different concentrations of concanavalin A (8 micrograms/ml and 60 micrograms/ml, respectively). The effect of stimulated lymphocytes on proliferative response of allogenic lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutinin was investigated. The liver injury was induced by three-fold subcutaneous injections of carbon tetrachloride (1 ml of 50% oil solution per 1 kg of body mass) each third day. Histological analysis of the liver and T cell activity examinations was performed 2, 9, 16, 30 days after carbon tetrachloride administration. It was shown that the stages of the more pronounced liver injury and the less pronounced regeneration of the liver were accompanied by the increase of helper T cell activity. The stages of the intensive liver regeneration and the less pronounced liver injury were accompanied by the increase of suppressor T cell activity.