Introduction: Cholestasis leads to liver cell death, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and eventually liver failure. Bile duct ligated rats constitute an interesting model to study the mechanism of cholestasis, and its action on several organs and tissues, including the brain.
Aim: To analyze brain bile acids individually in ligated rats to evaluate if its profile is altered towards a more toxic condition in cholestasis.
Material and methods: Male Wistar rats were used and separated in two groups: bile duct ligated rats and sham operated rats (n = 5 in each group). Bile acid profile was assessed in brain homogenates. Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase determinations, bilirubin and ammonia plasma concentration were also measured in both groups.
Results: Although the total amount of bile acids in control animal brains showed a higher concentration than in bile duct ligated rats, the bile acid profile in this group was found more toxic composition than in controls. Lithocholic acid was present in brain in higher concentration (87.4 % of total brain bile acids) in ligated rats and absent in controls. Alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin and ammonia were significantly higher in bile duct ligated rats than in control group.
Conclusion: It was found a toxic brain bile acid profile during hepatic cholestasis which could be one of the explanations of hepatic encephalopathy observed in cholestatic diseases.