INFLUENCE OF GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS ISOLATED FROM THE RAT LIVER WITH VARIOUS STAGES OF CARBON TETRACHLORIDE-INDUCED FIBROSIS UPON COLLAGEN FIBRILLOGENESIS IN VITRO

The influence of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) on collagen fibrillogenesis in vitro was investigated. GAG and collagen were isolated from the liver of rats treated with carbon tetrachloride at various time intervals (3-16 weeks). It was found that GAG obtained from the fibrotic liver accelerated collagen fibril formation. This effect was more evident in a solution of type I collagen than type III collagen. Studies on the liver samples showed that collagen was relatively slowly liberated in a solution of acid from the fibrotic liver as compared to normal tissue. The observed phenomena were related to the stage of fibrosis, i.e., to the duration of carbon tetrachloride treatment. Therefore, a role for GAG alteration in the development of hepatic fibrosis is suggested.