chondroitin and Liver-Cirrhosis

Derangements in iron metabolism following liver damage were studied with special reference to iron deposit in relation to reticuloendothelial functions. In clinical studies, the metabolic fate of chondroitin sulfuric 59Fe, given intravenously, was examined in patients with chronic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis, diagnosed by liver biopsy. In experimental studies, liver damage was induced in rats by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) injection and the labeled iron was similarly administered. 1) In patients with chronic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis, a reduction in uptake and utilization rates of the labeled iron was observed. 2) In rats with CCl4-induced liver damage, these parameters of the reticuloendothelial function were more reduced in parallel with the extent of hepatic fibrosis. 3) Similar conclusion was obtained from the analysis of iron distribution among tissues and of iron incorporation into several fractions of the liver: that is the uptake into non-hemin iron was less as the fibrosis advanced. In addition, more iron was incorporated into hemosiderin fraction and less into ferritin fraction. The findings may suggest a derangement in apoferritin synthesis as well as in release mechanism of deposit iron. 4) It is suggested that derangements in iron metabolism following liver damage are mainly due to reduction of the reticuloendothelial functions, but are partly due to changes in hematopoiesis and protein metabolism.

Topics: Animals; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning; Chondroitin; Chondroitin Sulfates; Chronic Disease; Hepatitis; Humans; Iron; Liver Cirrhosis; Male; Mononuclear Phagocyte System; Rats

The extractable and nonextractable collagen and glycosaminoglycuronans (GAG) were estimated and characterized in 32 dried, defatted human livers obtained at necropsy. 10 had normal livers. 22 of the 32 livers were from patients who drank in excess: 5 had fatty livers, 7 had alcholic hepatitis, and 10 had cirrhosis. Livers with alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis had significantly increased total and 1 N NaCl-extractable collagen. Only alcoholic hepatitis livers had significantly increased Tris-buffer-extractable GAG, but the amino acid composition of these GAG (proteoglycans) was no different from that of normal livers. The major fraction of these GAG had isoelectric pH (pI)

Topics: Alcoholism; Amino Acids; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Chondroitin; Chromatography, Gel; Collagen; Connective Tissue; Dialysis; Fatty Liver; Glucosamine; Glycoproteins; Glycosaminoglycans; Heparitin Sulfate; Hexosamines; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid; Hydroxyproline; Isoelectric Focusing; Liver; Liver Cirrhosis

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aging; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Chondroitin; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetic Nephropathies; Electrophoresis; Female; Glycosaminoglycans; Heart Diseases; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase; Hypertension; Liver Cirrhosis; Male; Middle Aged; Uronic Acids

Topics: Amides; Chondroitin; Connective Tissue; Glycosaminoglycans; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid; Liver; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental; Methods; Middle Aged; Sulfhydryl Compounds

Topics: Amides; Animals; Carbon Isotopes; Chondroitin; Collagen; Connective Tissue; Hexosamines; Hydroxyproline; Liver; Liver Cirrhosis; Prednisolone; Rats; Sulfhydryl Compounds; Sulfur Isotopes

Topics: Animals; Autoradiography; Chondroitin; Glycosaminoglycans; Histocytochemistry; Liver Cirrhosis; Rats; Staining and Labeling; Sulfates; Sulfur Isotopes

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Chondroitin; Glucuronates; Hexosamines; Humans; Imidazoles; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Diseases; Orotic Acid; Proteins