Original Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 1997. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 15, 1997; 3(3): 174-176
Published online Sep 15, 1997. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v3.i3.174
Relation between bile acids and myocardial damage in obstructive jaundice
Yi-Ping Mu, Shu-You Peng
Yi-Ping Mu, Shu-You Peng, Department of Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Medical University, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province, No. 394177.
Correspondence to: Dr. Yi-Ping Mu, Department of Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Medical University, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
Received: September 26, 1996
Revised: November 16, 1996
Accepted: December 23, 1996
Published online: September 15, 1997
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the morphologic changes of the myocardium and its relationship to serum bile acids in obstructive jaundice.

METHODS: Part 1: 35 rats were randomly assigned to three groups: Group I (BDL1, n = 11), the common bile duct (CBD) was ligated and severed and mice were then sacrificed after one week. Group I (BDL2, n = 11), the CBD was ligated and severed and mice were then killed after two weeks. Group I (SO, n = 13), the CBD was isolated. Hearts were collected for morphologic studies and blood was taken to determine the total serum bile acids (TAB). Part 2: 13 rats received gastric intubation of 10% 4 mL/kg sodium cholate. Their serum TBA and the heart’s morphologic changes were then examined.

RESULTS: One to two weeks after the CBD was ligated and severed, damage was evident in the mitochondria within the myocardium and the serum TBA was significantly increased. When rats were administered sodium cholate to make their peak blood concentration mimic the average blood concentration in BDL2, a similar degree of myocardial damage was observed.

CONCLUSION: An increase in endogenous bile acids is one causative factor of myocardial damage in obstructive jaundice.

Keywords: Cholestasis; Bile acids and salts; Jaundice; Myocardium/pathology; Mitochondria, heart