title: Effects of oral ursodeoxycholic acid in healthy cats on clinicopathological parameters, serum bile acids and light microscopic and ultrastructural features of the liver.
abstract: A blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) given orally, at a dose of 15 mg kg-1 per day for eight weeks, on the physical condition, haematological and serum biochemical profiles, urinalysis, total serum bile acids (TSBA) and hepatic histology of four healthy cats. There were no clinically important significant differences between the groups or within the treatment groups in clinicopathological parameters. TSBA concentrations or histology. A significant lower concentration/proportion of taurochenodeoxycholic acid was observed in the treated cats (P = 0.05). Only one treated cat accumulated measurable quantities of UDCA, and the compound appeared to be non-toxic. It did not increase the concentration of TSBA, and accumulated minimally in the serum. It should be investigated for therapeutic use in cats with hepatobiliary disease.
authors.affiliation: Section of Small Animal Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Center
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Randolph
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Rowland
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Yeager
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Erb
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corbett
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Watrous
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000097:blood*; D002415:Cats; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D004573:Electrolytes; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid