The role of colchicine in prevention of hepatic cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was undertaken to determine whether colchicine has a beneficial effect in the prevention of hepatic cirrhosis when it is given simultaneously with CCl4.


METHODS
Wistar rats were employed as experimental animals and divided into 6 groups: Group I received saline solution, Group II, saline solution and mineral oil; Group III, colchicine (10 micrograms/100 g) and mineral oil; Group IV, colchicine (10 micrograms/100 g) and CCl4; Group V, colchicine (5 micrograms/100 g) and CCl4; and, Group VI received saline solution and CCl4. The effect of colchicine was evaluated by liver function tests, serum total proteins, electrolytes and histological evaluation.


RESULTS
The results demonstrated higher values of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin in groups IV and V when compared with group VI (p < 0.05). No difference between group VI and groups IV and V was observed in histological evaluation, serum total proteins and electrolytes (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Colchicine, as given in this study, did not have any protective effect in the prevention of cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride.
Rhoden
E L
EL
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Fundacao Faculdade Federal Ciencias Medicas of Porto Alegre FFFCMPA, Santa Casa University Hospital, Brazil.
Pereira-Lima
J
J
Rhoden
C R
CR
Mauri
M
M
Pereira-Lima
J C
JC
Zettler
C G
CG
Barros
E G
EG
D000818:Animals; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / Q000473:pathology*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D003078:Colchicine