An experimental model for the measurement of renal function after temporary ureteral obstruction in the rat

We present the results obtained with a ureterovesical implant after ipsilateral ureteral obstruction in the rat, suitable for the study of renal function after deobstruction in these animals. Thirty-seven male Wistar rats weighing 260 to 300 g were submitted to distal right ureteral ligation and divided into 3 groups, A (N = 13, 1 week of obstruction), B (N = 14,2 weeks of obstruction) and C (N = 10, 3 weeks of obstruction). The animals were then submitted to ureterovesical implantation on the right side and nephrectomy on the left side. During the 4-week follow-up period serum levels of urea and creatinine were measured on the 2nd, 7 th, 14th, 21st and 28th day and compared with preoperative levels. The ureterovesical implantation included a psoas hitch procedure and the ureter was pulled into the bladder using a transvesical suture. During the first week of the postoperative period 8 animals died, 4/13 in group A (1 week of obstruction) and 4/14 in group B (2 weeks of obstruction). When compared to preoperative serum levels, urea and creatinine showed a significant increase (P<0.05) on the 2nd postoperative day in groups A and B, with a gradual return to lower levels. However, the values in group B animals were higher than those in group A at the end of the follow-up. In group C,2/10 animals (after 3 weeks of obstruction) were sacrificed at the time of ureterovesical implantation due to infection of the obstructed kidneys. The remaining animals in this group were operated upon but all of them died during the first week of follow-up due to renal failure. This technique of ureterovesical implantation in the rat provides effective drainage of the upper urinary tract, permitting the development of an experimental model for the study of long-term renal function after period of ureteral obstruction.

Integrity of liver inner mitochondrial membrane in rats with extrahepatic cholestasis

To investigate the effect of extrahepatic cholestasis on integrity of the inner mitochondrial membrane, a study was conduced on two groups of rats: sham-operated control animals (N=10) and rats subjected to extrahepatic cholestasis (EHC, N+10) by double ligation of the hepatic duct. The animals were observed for 7 days and then sacrificed. The EHC group presented significantly hugher serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubins and alkakine phosphatase than the controls (P<0.01). Basal mitochondrial respiration (state IV), analyzed separately using either *-ketoglutarate or *-ketoglutarate+ pyruvate as substrates, was similar in the two groups (P>0.01). ADP-activated respiration, state III, dimished significantly in the EHC group. The results show that the decrease in mitochondrial function that has been reported by several investigators to occur in EHC is due to mitochondrial a alterations not related to the ability of these organelles to maintain the proton gradient, since the inner mitochondrial membrane continued to be energized throughtout the observation period

Serum transaminase levels in the acute phase of chronic extrahepatic cholestasis

Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels are normal or discretely increased in rats with chronic extrahepatic cholestasis (CEHC). During the acute phase (first 72 h after biliary obstruction), however, serum transminase values are quite elevated due to a mechanism not yet fully elucidated. Thus, this is a good experimental model, not involving hepatocellular necrosis, for the study of serum ALT and AST levels during the acute phase of CEHC. Male Wistar rats (250-350 g) were divided into two groups: group A(N = 60) was submitted to sham operation for bile duct ligation (BDL), and group B (N = 60) was submitted to BDL. Thirty and 120 min after BDL there was a 1.5-fold increase in both serum ALT and AST levels compared to sham-operated rats (P<0.05). Serum ALT levels were higher than AST levels as early as 30 min after BDL and the highest serum values for both transaminases were observed at 360 min which was also the last value measured. Serum AST levels increased 120 min after BDL, with no further significant increase thereafter

Effect of hepatic artery ligation on liver metabolism in rats

The rats an experimental model of orthotopic liver transplant that does not need arterial revascularization of the transplanted liver. the objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of hepatic artery ligation on hepatic metabolism in rats. After 2, 3, or 24 h hepatic artery ligation, no significant differences in serum levels of alanine aminotransferase were observed. Bile flow decreased significantly 3 h after arterial ligation (P < 0.05) and returned to normal after 24 h (P < 0.05)

Heparin-induced increase in plasma and serum gama-glutamyl transpeptidase activity

Gama-Glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity may be a sensitive index of hepatobiliary dysfunction. GGT activity, however, has been shown to be affected by several factors in different clinical situations. The present study was designed to determine the effect of heparin on serum and plasma GGT activity. Blood samples were collected from 15 normal male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g for the determination of GGT activity in plasma prepared with heparin (group P(H),N = 10), in serum (group S,N = 15) and in serum with heparin added (group S + H,N = 10). GGT activity was 45.1 + or - 9.5 U/l (mean + or - SD) for serum compared with 161.2 + or - 46.1 U/l for serum plus heparin and 93.3 + or - 30.9 U/l for plasma prepared with heparin. The mean for each group was significantly different from the means for the other groups. These data demonstrate that GGT activity measurements should be made on serum in the absence of heparin, which produces elevated results