Hyaluronic acid content and hyaluronidase activity in liver and spleen of rats with hydralazine-induced collagen-like syndrome.

A drug-induced collagen-like syndrome was produced in rats by hydralazine administration for 8, 9 and 10 months. The hyaluronic acid content and the hyaluronidase activity in liver and spleen were studied. A decrease in the hyaluronic acid amount was accompanied by an enhanced activity of hyaluronidase in both tissues. The results provide evidence for metabolic disturbances of glycosaminoglycans in the connective tissue in the collagen disease-like syndrome.