Abstract:
The role of the collagenase in the collagen degradation in rat liver during the regression of experimental cirrhosis has been investigated. The
activity of collagenase has been determined biochemically and electronically and histochemically in the normal condition of liver and in CCl4
-induced
fibrotic rat liver and during 2 months after the end of the treatment by CCl4
. In the condition of liver cirrhosis a decrease of collagenase activity has
been revealed. After the cessation of CCl4
-treatment two maximums (on the 7th and 30th days) of a significant increase in collagenolytic activity have
been determined. A strong correlation between the dynamics of collagenase activity and the change of hydroxyproline level in the liver tissue has been
identified. Electronically and histochemically it has been determined that in a normal rat liver the active collagenase is located in lysosomes of .Kuppfer
cells and endotheliocytes In the fibrotic rat liver the reaction product was revealed mainly extracellularly on hepatocytes, macrophages and fibroblasts
cytolemma and on the adjacent collagen fibrils on the 7th and 30th days after CCl4
abolition. The results show that during the recovery from hepatic fibrosis
the active collagenase is located mainly extracellularly. There are two periods of collagenolytical activity augmentation in liver – on the 7th and 30th days
after the discontinuation of CCl4
-treatment. It means that the initiation of collagen degradation in liver takes place at least twice, probably, depending
on the quantity and activity of different types of liver cells.
