endothelin-1 and Jaundice--Obstructive

The objective of our study was to examine the hepatic protective mechanism of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) in rats with obstructive jaundice (OJ). Twenty rats underwent bile duct ligation and received daily intraperitoneal injections of either control saline or Ginkgo biloba extract for 14 days. Ten sham-operated rats had their bile duct exposed but not ligated or sectioned. Serum alanine transaminase (ALT) was analyzed for liver function tests and liver damage was further assessed by histologic examination. The levels of endothelin 1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) in blood and liver homogenate were measured. The serum alanine transaminase was elevated in the bile duct ligation rats (BDL rats); GBE could significantly lower serum transaminase level and ameliorate liver histological damage. ET-1 and NO levels in both plasma and liver tissue were also elevated in common bile duct (CBD)-ligated rats, but this increase was significantly decreased by GBE treatment. Moreover, the degree of liver damage severity positively correlates with high levels of ET-1 and NO. GBE mediated the liver protective effect at least in part by suppressing overproduction of ET-1 and NO and restoring a proper balance between ET-1 and NO to some extent.

Topics: Alanine Transaminase; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Endothelin-1; Female; Ginkgo biloba; Jaundice, Obstructive; Liver; Male; Nitric Oxide; Plant Extracts; Rats; Rats, Wistar

The alteration of hormones regulating sodium and water status is related to renal failure in obstructive jaundice (OJ).. OJ was induced by common bile duct ligation. Samples were obtained from the control (SO) and OJ groups at 24 and 72 hours, and at 7 days. Different parameters related to biliary obstruction, liver and renal injury, and vasoactive mediators such as renin, aldosterone, endothelin-1 (ET-1) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were studied.. Bile duct ligation caused an increase in total bilirubin (p < 0.001) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) (p < 0.001). The SO and OJ groups had the same values for diuresis, renin, and creatinine clearance at 24 h. However, animals with OJ had a lower sodium concentration in urine than SO animals (p < 0.01), as well as an increase in aldosterone levels (p < 0.03). ANP levels were moderately increased during OJ but did not reach statistical significance when compared to the SO group. In contrast, OJ animals showed a rise in serum ET-1 concentration (p < 0.001) and increased PGE2 in urine (p < 0.001).. Biliary obstruction induced an increase in ET-1 release and PGE2 urine excretion. These hormones might play a role during the renal complications associated with renal disturbances that occur during OJ.

Topics: Animals; Dinoprostone; Endothelin-1; Jaundice, Obstructive; Kidney Diseases; Male; Rats; Rats, Wistar

The aim was to evaluate the factors determining preoperative renal dysfunction in patients with obstructive jaundice.. In a prospective cross-sectional observational study, 63 patients, 27 with benign and 36 with malignant obstructive jaundice, were investigated at admission and compared with 25 healthy control subjects. Variables analysed included extracellular body water (ECW) compartment, plasma levels of aldosterone, renin, atrial natriuretic peptide, vasopressin, nitric oxide, endothelin (ET) 1 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), urinary nitric oxide and PGE2, serum albumin and renal function.. The metabolic profile of obstructive jaundice was characterized by a depletion of the ECW (P = 0.004), and increased plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (P < 0.001), ET-1 (P = 0.044), vasopressin (P = 0.017), aldosterone (P = 0.005) and renin (P = 0.001). Increased plasma (P < 0.001) and urinary (P = 0.001) PGE2 levels were also found. Fifty-four per cent of patients had a creatinine clearance of less than 70 ml/min. In multivariate analysis, serum bilirubin, renin, ET-1, PGE2, decreased urinary sodium excretion and age were identified as predictors of renal dysfunction.. Renal dysfunction in patients with obstructive jaundice was associated with the degree of biliary obstruction, age of the patient and reduced urinary sodium excretion. These alterations were closely related to derangements in sodium- and water-regulating hormones.

Topics: Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Dinoprostone; Endothelin-1; Female; Humans; Jaundice, Obstructive; Kidney Diseases; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Prospective Studies; Regression Analysis; Risk Factors; Water-Electrolyte Imbalance

To evaluate the effect of glycine on plasma and liver tissue changes of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) contents in rats with obstructive jaundice.. Ninety healthy Wistar rats of both sexes weighing 275+/-25 g were randomly divided into sham-operated, bile duct-ligated, and bile duct-ligated plus glycine-treated groups, the latter was performed with 5% glycine solution substituting for tap water drunk ad libium for 5 days before and 6 days after operation. Blood and liver tissue were sampled at the time of sacrifice on the 8th day post operation. Plasma total bilirubin, endotoxin, levels, as well as TNF-alpha, ET-1 and NO contents in liver tissue were determined.. Plasma endotoxin and total bilirubin levels were significantly higher in both bile duct-ligated and bile duct-ligated plus glycine-treated rats than in sham-operated animals (P=0.000613, 0.00921 and 0.00737, 0.00841 respectively), whereas they did not display any statistically significant difference between the former groups (P=0.417 and 0.374 respectively). Likewise, TNF-alpha, ET-1 and NO contents in both plasma and liver tissue were significantly increased in both bile duct-ligated and bile duct-ligated plus glycine-treated rats compared with sham-operated animals(P=0.00813, 0.00793, 0.00671, 0.00804, 0.00872, and 0.00947 in plasma and 0.00531, 0.00785, 0.00912, 0.00981 and 0.00635 in liver tissue respectively). However, these inflammatory mediators in both plasma and liver tissue were significantly reduced in bile duct-ligated rats fed on 5% glycine solution compared with that without (P=0.00953, 0.00891, 0.0795, 0.00867, 0.0697 and 0.00907 in plasma and liver tissue respectively).. Reduction of TNF-alpha, ET-1 and NO contents in plasma and liver tissue of rats fed on glycine may be helpful to alleviate pathological lesions in obstructive jaundice.

Topics: Animals; Bilirubin; Endothelin-1; Endotoxins; Female; Glycine; Jaundice, Obstructive; Liver; Male; Nitric Oxide; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha