Effect of anti-inflammatory steroids on the activity of selected lysosomal hydrolases in serum of rats with experimental liver fibrosis.

Liver fibrosis was produced in rats by subcutaneous injections of carbon tetrachloride. The effect of anti-inflammatory steroids (hydrocortisone, prednisone, dexamethasone) on the activity of serum lysosomal hydrolases (beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, beta-glucosidase and alpha-mannosidase) was investigated in healthy and CCl4 poisoned rats. The marked increase of enzymatic activity in blood serum was observed in animals with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Quite opposite results were found in normal rats treated with glucocorticosteroids. In rats which were given both carbon tetrachloride and corticosteroids the obtained values of serum enzymatic activity did not have a uniform character as compared to controls or CCl4 intoxicated rats. Presumable mechanisms of the results obtained are discussed.