X. EFFECTS OF DEFICIENCY 75 



liver that predispose to experimental cirrhosis in rats and to the fact that 

 hypolipotropic diets usually result in hepatic fibrosis that starts in the 

 centrolobular region. This type of liver pathology is prevented by lipo- 

 tropic agents, particularly by choline and methionine. Extent of curative 

 effects depends on the degree of damage that has occurred. This experi- 

 mental cirrhosis must be distinguished from the hemorrhage and necrosis 

 or necrotic degeneration that occurs in rats if fed certain deficient diets, 

 especially diets low in cystine and vitamin E, and from the pathology 

 caused by an excess of dietary cystine. These various conditions have been 

 described by many workers. ^°^'"^ 



A characteristic feature of cirrhotic livers due to a deficiency of lipotropic 

 factors is an acid-fast and sudanophilic pigment named "ceroid" by Lillie 

 et aZ."^ Victor and Pappenheimer reported that ceroid was associated with 

 vitamin E deficiency,"^ a conclusion supported by Hartroft,^^ who sug- 

 gested the possibility that the deposit was a mixture of lipids and some 

 component of erythrocytes."^ 



Liver damage caused by the excessive administration of ethanol in rats 

 affords an excellent illustration of the protective role of lipotropic substances 

 such as choline. ^°^' ^^" Ash worth reported, however, that alcohol exerted 

 an effect unrelated to lipotropic f actors. ^-^ Best et al}'^'^ and Hartroft^^ found 

 increased fibrous tissue formation in nearly 50 % of rats fed a low protein, 

 low choline diet and given 15 % alcohol as drinking water. Pair-fed controls 

 developed the same degree of damage only if the total caloric intake was 



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