title: Effects of ursodeoxycholic acid on intrahepatic cholestasis in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on intrahepatic cholestasis in rats, and to explore its mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats suffering from intrahepatic cholestasis were treated with UDCA. Their serum alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT), total cholesterol (TCH), bile flow, total bile acid excretion, total Na(+) and TCH of bile were measured before and after treatment. In addition, the changes of liver tissue under microscrope were observed and recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, serum ALT, ALP, TBIL, DBIL, gamma-GT and TCH of rats in the treatment group decreased, while bile flow, total bile acid excretion, total Na(+) and TCH decreased significantly. Degeneration of hepatocytes, infiltration of inflamed cells and proliferation of small bile ducts in the treatment group were improved under microscope.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UDCA may have therapeutic effects on cholestatic hepatitis. The mechanism may involve in its hydrophilicity, choleretic effect and immune modulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious disease, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China. wuqun@mail.hz.zj.cn
authors.forename: Lanjuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaowei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Fangfang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Nianfeng
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid