ROLE OF VITAMIN-A IN LIVER FIBROSIS

The relationship between vitamin A and liver fibrosis was studied with a CCl4-induced fibrosis model in rats. Depending on the time of admin istration, vitamin A can potentiate or reduce fibrosis: when present d uring CCl4-treatment parenchymal cell damage and fibrosis were enhance d, whereas vitamin A post-treatment strongly reduced fibrosis. Enhance d fibrosis was also found in rats with low hepatic retinoid levels. Ad ministration of beta-carotene during CCl4-treatment reduced several si gns of fibrosis. The notion that liver retinoids play an important rol e in hepatic fibrogenesis is discussed.