Effect of colchicine on hepatic glycosaminoglycan metabolism in mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of colchicine on hepatic glycosaminoglycan (GAG) metabolism in mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum.


METHODS
The amount of GAG was measured in the liver of mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum for 6-16 wk and treated with colchicine.


RESULTS
Six weeks after infection, the GAG content of infected mice's livers and uninfected control was 14 +/- 2 micrograms/g liver and 4 +/- 1 microgram/g liver, respectively. The GAG content reached a peak about 6 times of the normal level in the 10th wk after infection, being 56 +/- 9 micrograms/g and 10 +/- 1 microgram/g for infected and uninfected mice respectively, and then declined. Treatment of infected mice with colchicine reduced the total GAG content to 22 +/- 3 micrograms/g liver, but not suppress the GAG content below the normal level in the 10th wk. Microscopic hepatic egg granuloma.


CONCLUSIONS
Colchicine may exerts its GAG reduction effect through the suppression of granuloma formation.
Si
Q
Q
Department of Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Medical University, China.
Zhang
Y
Y
Wang
Q H
QH
Zhuang
Q Q
QQ
Mei
M Z
MZ
D000818:Animals; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D003078:Colchicine