Methylcellulose prevents the regression of carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in rats.

Male F344 rats were treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4; 0.3 ml/kg per os, 3 times a week) for 2 mo. At the end of the CCl4 administration out of the 65 animals 30 received methylcellulose (MCL; 3.85 ml/kg, 5% solution, per os, 3 times a week) for 6 wk. Thirty-five rats did not receive any further treatment. The fibrotic change caused by CCl4 reached its maximum 2 wk after the end of the treatment. After this, the severity of the fibrotic change regressed spontaneously. This regression was not observable in the liver of rats that received MCL. The fact that MCL is used as a solvent for drugs and as a food additive underlines the importance of the effect of this compound on chronic liver injury.