Serum bilirubin fractions in analbuminemic rats after bile duct ligation. Albumin requirement in the formation of covalently protein-bound bilirubin.
To clarify the role of albumin in the production of covalently protein-bound bilirubin (delta bilirubin, B delta) in the blood and the pathophysiological relevance of B delta, changes in the serum bilirubin level and histological findings in the liver, kidneys and myocardium were studied in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and Nagase analbuminemic rats (NAR) after bile duct ligation (BDL). In SD rats, the serum bilirubin level increased until 3 days after BDL, and was followed by the appearance of B delta. The increase in serum bilirubin was smaller in NAR, and no serum B delta was noted. Albumin administration to NAR 1 day after BDL increased serum bilirubin with the appearance of B delta. Serum bilirubin decreased in both SD rats and NAR 7 days after BDL. Marked deposition of bile pigments was noted in NAR in the renal tubular epithelium. The renal bilirubin content was decreased after albumin administration. From these results it is concluded that albumin is necessary for the production of B delta, and that renal deposition of bile pigments progresses in the absence of albumin.
Adachi
Y
Y
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
Kambe
A
A
Yamashita
M
M
Inufusa
H
H
Nagase
S
S
Yamamoto
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001652:Bile Ducts; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D011485:Protein Binding; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000172:deficiency*
D012709:Serum Albumin; D001663:Bilirubin