Effect of colchicine on lactate hepatocytes in rats treated with ethanol production by isolated carbon tetrachloride and

This study was designed to evaluate the lactate production by isolated hepatocytes in rats with cirrhosis induced by means GCl, + ethanol and the effect of colchicine in this experimental model of fibrosis. The effect of colchicine on lactate metabolism may be important in explaining the beneficial mechanism of this therapy on liver cirrhosis. Colchicine treatment produced a decrease in perivenular fibrosis and a descense in the degrees of this histological lesion. Colchicine treatment ameliorated the subsequent further development of cirrhosis. Lactate production in colchicine groups were higher than the carbon tetrachloride groups. By contrast, a priori, we observed a decrease in lactacidaemia and a lesser lactate utilization in colchicine groups comparison with Ccl, + ethanol groups. Our results suggest that colchicine improves the fibrosis by a mechanism independent of hepatic lactate metabolism.