INTRAHEPATIC CHOLESTASIS INDUCED BY THE EXPERIMENTAL CHRONIC ALCOHOLIC LIVER INJURY

Abstract

In order to study the intrahepatic cholestasis by the experimental alcoholic liver injury, effect of ethanol on bile canalicular structure and it's function were studied. Male-Donryu rats were fed on the 36% ethanol-containing liquid diet for 1 and 9 months.
After 9 months feeding, the bile canaliculi were dilated and microvilli were lost and decreased in number, these changes were already observed after 1 month, though not so remarkable.
On 1 month feeding, bile flow was significantly decreased and bile acid secretion was also decreased, and serum bile acid concentration elevated by two times. As to biliary bile acid composition, deoxycholic acid decreased by a half and ursodeoxycholic acid increased by about four times.
These ultrastructual and functional changes were quite similar to the drug-induced intrahepatic cholestasis.