Hepatic collagen production in the rat is unaffected by methotrexate

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3181/00379727-182-42327· OSTI ID:6618592

Laine, L; Chojkier, M

Methotrexate (MTX) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. However, no information exists regarding the effects of MTX on hepatic collagen metabolism. Therefore, the authors studied the role of MTX in hepatic collagen production in vivo in rats receiving an 8-week course of varying doses of MTX. Twenty-four hours prior to sacrifice animals received an injection of (5-/sup 3/H)proline. Collagen was extracted with hot trichloroacetic acid and the protein-bound (/sup 3/H)hydroxyproline was used as a measure of de novo collagen production. The hepatic collagen content was essentially the same in the control and treatment groups in spite of evidence of hepatotoxicity. Similarly, no significant differences were present among the control and MTX-treated groups in the de novo absolute collagen production. In summary, they found no evidence of increased hepatic fibrogenesis in small groups of animals after 8 weeks of treatment with MTX. Data clearly supporting the claim that MTX itself is responsible for hepatic fibrosis are lacking.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, San Diego (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6618592
• Journal Information: Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.; (United States) Vol. 182; ISSN PSEBA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
ANTIMETABOLITES
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOSYNTHESIS
COLLAGEN
DRUGS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
KINETICS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
METHOTREXATE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
RATS
REACTION KINETICS
RODENTS
SCLEROPROTEINS
SYNTHESIS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES