Changes in prolinase and prolidase activity during CCl4 administration inducing liver cytolysis and fibrosis in rat

In earlier papers, we reported that the activity of prolidase (EC 3.4.13.9) increased in the plasma of patients with cirrhosis, while that of serum prolinase (EC 3.4.13.8) was normal and was affected only by necrosis. In this work, we investigated prolinase and prolidase activity during short and long-term CCL4 administration in the rat. After a single dose, prolinase activity increased in serum faster than did prolidase activity and it also decreased more slowly. Within the liver, no significant change in these two enzyme activities was observed during the acute phase of necrosis. During chronic CCl4 intoxication, the rises in prolidase and prolinase activity in rat serum were difficult to interpret, because of the liver necrosis present throughout the experiment. However, within the liver, prolinase activity was not affected, unlike that of prolidase which rose at week 3, reached a maximum value at week 6 (reversible fibrosis) and remained elevated at weeks 10 and 12 (irreversible fibrosis). The increase in prolidase activity was specific for liver and was not observed in other tissues. These results are in agreement with those obtained in humans; they highlight the possible physiological significance of enhanced liver prolidase activity during the fibrotic process.