Increase in lipoperoxides and prolyl hydroxylase activity in rat liver following chronic ethanol feeding

The effect of lipid peroxidation on hepatic collagen synthesis was investigated in male Wistar strain rats after 7 weeks of ethanol feeding. Compared with control rats, the ethanol-fed rats had a significantly higher lipoperoxide content and a significantly lower reduced glutathione content al all times following ethanol treatment. Except for the earliest time (2 days), hepatic prolyl hydroxylase activity was also significantly increased and finally reached up to 214% of the control level. Hepatic hydroxyproline content was slightly increased, but not statistically significant. The lipoperoxides content was significantly correlated with prolyl hydroxylase activity and inversely correlated with reduced glutathione content. These findings were also confirmed in ethanol-pyrazole-treated rats. These results suggest that elevated lipoperoxides mediate an acceleration of collagen synthesis, even at an early stage, in ethanol-induced hepatic injury.