Hepatotoxins

HEPATOOTOXINS (from Latin hepar-liver), poisons against liver cells. Hepatotoxins belong to the so-called cytotoxins (see), cellular poisons constructed on the model of hemolysins and bacteriolysins, and are artificially obtained in a similar way - by parenteral administration of the corresponding antigen to an animal of another species (in this case - by administration of a suspension of liver cells). The chemical nature of hepatotoxins, like that of any cytotoxin, is unknown; supporters of the physicochemical direction in the doctrine of immunity even express doubt in the existence of hepatotoxins, as well as other cytotoxins as specific substances, and maintain the view that all such cellular poisons are new properties of blood serum acquired as a result of appropriate immunization. When injected into an animal from which liver cells were taken for immunization, or generally upon contact of hepatotoxins with the liver cells of this species, the latter undergo destructive lytic action.