Rapid induction of liver cirrhosis in rats by treatment with ethanol, carbon tetrachloride and progesterone

The administration of progesterone increases the degree of liver cirrhosis in rats treated with CCl4 and ethanol. Pseudolobulation with large amount of interstitial fibrosis are obtained after only 6 weeks of treatment. The ability of progesterone to suppress collagenase activity is supposed to be responsible of the strong increase of cirrhosis.