We examined the effect of prolonged bile duct obstruction, and subsequent biliary decompression, onbiochemical and metabolic parameters, using a reversible jaundice model in male Fischer 344 rats. Theanimals were studied after biliary obstruction for varying periods (4 days, one week, and two weeks) andfollowing decompression. They were sacrificed one or two weeks following decompression. All the ratswere compared to sham operated, pair-fed, controls. Obstructive jaundice rapidly increased bilirubin,liver enzymes, serum free fatty acid, and triglyceride levels. Glucose levels were significantly decreasedin the jaundice rats compared to their pair-fed controls. Only after two weeks of jaundice was significanthypoalbuminemia observed. Following decompression, all biochemical and metabolic values graduallyreturned to normal levels, except for albumin. Hypoalbuminemia was not reversed within the two-weekpost-decompression period. The rats jaundiced for two weeks had significantly higher mortality,compared to the other groups. We conclude that prolonged jaundice adversely affects the metaboliccapacity of the rats, with albumin concentration being markedly decreased, and that biliary decompressioncould not reverse completely all the alterations seen with cholestasis, especially following twoweeks of bile duct obstruction.
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