A reproducible animal model of liver cirrhosis by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is highly desirable for metabolic and therapeutic studies. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the neuromuscular blockade of rocuronium in CCl4 induced liver cirrhosis in rabbits.

Cirrhosis was induced by CCl4 treatment for 11 weeks. Rabbits were randomly assigned to two groups; control group: corn oil 0.5 ml/kg/2 days IM; study group: CCl4 0.5 ml/kg/2 days mixed 1 : 1 with corn oil IM. In the first study, the dose-response relations of rocuronium were studied in twenty rabbits. In the second study, time course of rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg in twenty rabbits was evaluated in each groups. Three fragments of each liver lobe at the end of the experimental period were collected and performed the histological examination.

Eleven-week CCl4 treatment resulted in liver cirrhosis, and increased AST and ALT compared with controls. In the first study, the calculated ED95 was 86.7 ± 8.7µg/kg and 132.4 ± 9.1µg/kg, respectively, in control and study group (P<0.0001). In the second study, the recovery times after rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg in study group were significantly prolonged than those in control group (P<0.05).

The model described in the present study was successful in producing liver cirrhosis used by CCl4 for 11 weeks in rabbits. Rocuronium has a decreased potency, and a prolonged duration of action in CCl4 induced liver cirrhosis in rabbits.