AbstractsBiology & Animal Science

It has been known for many years that complete ligation of the arterial supply to the liver was rapidly fatal in several mammalian species. Considerable speculation as to the pathological changes and mechanism of death have failed to uncover a satisfactory explanation. In general, if the portal vein is left intact, arterial ligation alone does not produce definite infarction, but a focal or massive necrosis usually appears within twenty-four hours. In 1949 it was reported by Markowitz, Rappaport and Scott that dogs which were treated with penicillin were able to survive complete hepatic arterial ligation.