HEPATOTOXIC EFFECTS OF ETHANOL AND PHENFORMIN ASSOCIATION IN RATS

1. The association of ethanol and phenformin during 6 months in the Sp rague-Dawley rat produces an alteration in lactate homeostasis. A basa l blood lactate value of 54.13 +/- 15.43 mg/dl was found compared to 2 3.65 +/- 7.4 mg/dl in control rats. 2. Lactic acid levels increased to 28.8 +/- 7.42 mg/dl and 22.01 +/- 8.08 mg/dl after chronic administra tion of ethanol or phenformin in Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively. Ne vertheless, these were not statistically significant with respect to t hose of control group. 3. The total hepatic collagen content after chr onic administration of phenformin and ethanol was moderately elevated 7.12 +/- 1.85 mg/g of wet tissue, and statistically significant with r espect to the control group, 4.77 +/- 1.17 mg/g. Collagen content valu es in phenformin and ethanol rats did not reveal statistically signifi cant differences. 4. Liver showed histological degenerative changes bu t not any sign of fibrosis after chronic administration of ethanol and phenformin together.