A contribution to the model of biliary infection in rats.

The model of biliary tract infection induced in rats given suspension of E. coli into the bile duct is described. To prevent leakage of microorganisms after the administration, a temporary ligation of the bile duct followed. Contemporary groups of sham-operated and control rats (given saline by intrabiliary injection) were compared to assess the significance of the changes. The effect of biliary infection was concentration dependent. If 0.1 ml of the concentration containing 10(2), 10(3) and 10(6) colony-forming units/ml was injected, the mortality of rats reached 8%, 57% and 65%, respectively within 24 h. Blood and bile cultures from all dead animals grew E. coli. To evaluate the effect of chronic biliary infection, the concentration of 10(2) colony-forming units/ml was used. Serum concentrations of total and conjugated bilirubin, cholesterol and creatinine, activities of S-alanine-aminotransferase, S-aspartate-aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, the count of leucocytes in blood, total body weight with weight of the liver were investigated on days 1, 4 and 12 after the treatment. The results showed: an increase in leucocytes (21 +/- 4.2 10(9)/l, p less than 0.02 vs control animals) on day 4, an augmentation of serum cholesterol on day 1, (2.1 +/- 0.9 mmol/l, p less than 0.02 vs control animals), the presence of E. coli in blood on day 1 and its persistence in the bile on days 1, 4 and 12. Except the bile, all of the other symptoms were reversible by day 12.

Liver damage induced by intrabiliary turpentine in rats.

Inflammation of the rat bile duct induced by administration of turpentine into it has been used to study the influence of the impaired duct on liver function. Turpentine was dissolved in olive oil 1:1000 and 1:500. A 2 h ligation of the bile duct was used to promote a local effect. Contemporary groups of intact, sham-operated, control rats (given 0.9% NaCl by intrabiliary injection) and animals with total chronic obstruction were compared to assess the significance of changes. Serum concentrations of total and conjugated bilirubin, cholesterol and creatinine, activities of S-alanine-aminotransferase, S-aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase, mortality of rats, and also total body weight compared with the weight of the liver, were investigated on days 1, 4, 8, 12, 16, 32 and 64 after surgery and turpentine, or following ligation of the bile duct. An increase in bilirubin and cholesterol, an augmentation of enzymatic activity and the histological changes were indicative of hepatotoxicity or cholestasis. The turpentine concentration--effect, manifested in body-weight change, suggests some specificity of the effect. There were no changes in serum creatinine arterial blood pressure, heart rate or portal blood pressure, when turpentine was administered by the intrabiliary route. These results suggest primary liver damage.