Effects of urso-deoxycholic acid (UDCA) on α-naphthyl-isothiocyanate (ANIT) induced intrahepatic cholestasis in rats

Abstract

Using the ANIT induced model of cholestasis in rats, the therapeutic effects of UDCA to the intrahepatic cholestasis were evaluated by changes of serum chemistry and liver histology. ANIT was administered once at a dosage of 40mg/kg b.w. per os and UDCA was given ad libitum for 7 days by a drinking water containing UDCA at 0.5 and 5.0% solution. In the period of bile duct epithelial degeneration and necrosis, effects of UDCA for jaundice was not detected, but hepato-cellular disturbances were appeared histologically. Moreover, the elevation of serum levels of chenodeoxy cholic acid, deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid was accompanied. On the other hand, in the recovery stage of the bile duct epithelium, serum bilirubin was decreased significantly in the UDCA group which seemed to be related with the potent choleretic effect of UDCA. These results may indicate that UDCA is effective for the intrahepatic cholestasis in the case with no bile duct epithelial damage but in the presence of it hepato-cellular injury is introduced by the accumulated toxic bile acids in the blood.