Effects of experimental hyper- and hypocalcemia on bile flow and composition in sheep

ABSTRACT

Experiments were carried out on sixteen Iranian cross-bred sheep aged between 2-2.5 years old, with body weight between 35-45 kg. All operative procedures were performed under anaesthesia by intra-juguglar infusion of sodium thiopental. One cannula into the proximal duodenum and the second into gallbladder were inserted. Experiments commenced approximately 10 days after surgical preparations. Bile and blood samples were obtained simultaneously at one-hour intervals for six hours. Bile flow and concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, cholesterol, bilirubins, total solids of bile and calcium of serum were measured. Bile flow and composition as well as calcium of serum in this stage were considered as control group. Hypercalcemia was induced by intra-jugular adminstration of calcium borogluconate. Blood and bile samples were obtained using the same procedure as control group. After 10 days, hypocalcemia was induced by intra-jugular adminstration of Na2EDTA. Blood and bile samples were obtained using the same procedure as control group. The results indicated that, bile flow decreased significantly in hypercalcemic group [P<0.05], but did not change significantly in hypocalcemic group. The concentrations of biliary calcium, total bilirubin, indirect bilirubin and total solids increased significantly in hypercalcemic group [P<0.05]. During hypocalcemia the concentration of biliary potassium decreased significantly [P<0.05]. Bile flow and biliary calcium decreased respectively and increased significantly more in male than in female sheep [P<0.05]. In conclusion hypercalcemia decreases bile flow and increases biliary calcium, but hypocalcemia did not change bile flow and biliary calcium