Effect of lathyrogen on collagen of methylcholanthrene-induced sarcoma of rat.

Since the lathyrogen beta-aminopropionitrile is known to affect the fibrogenic and physical properties of collagen polymers, we have examined its effects on collagenous components of methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma in rat. Lathyrogen treatment reduced total collagen content of tumours from approximately 17 to 12 mg collagen/g tissue. It also proportionately increased the solubility of specific collagen fractions, the summation of all extractable solubilized collagens reflecting 37 and 67% of total collagen content for control and lathyric tumours, respectively. Although lathyrogen had no significant effect on the growth and overall size of fibrosarcoma, histological studies confirmed that changes had occurred to appearance and distribution of collagenous components of extracellular matrix.