ABSTRACT
The liver is exposed to many potentially toxic substances and is frequently a target organ in experimental animal studies. By its position, structure, and biochemistry, the liver is especially vulnerable to damage from toxic compounds. However, in man, liver damage is less common and only 9% of adverse drug reactions affect the liver. The liver cells have extraordinary regenerative powers and are able to tolerate increased metabolic demands, and the homogeneous structure of the liver allows it to withstand considerable injury. The liver is a sponge like cellular mass, mainly composed of parenchymal cells interspersed with a connective tissue framework for support. The liver is the target organ because of its metabolic capabilities, as the hepatotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride is the result of metabolic activation. The liver is clearly the major target for carbon tetrachloride toxicity and in particular, the endoplasmic reticulum of the centrilobular hepatocyte.
