Influence of cholestatic jaundice on the weight variance in an experimental model.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of cholestatic jaundice in weight variation.


METHODS
We used 64 adult rats divided into six groups: F1 (n = 6): normal females; F2 (n = 6): laparotomy females; F3 (n = 20): jaundiced females; M1 (n = 6): normal males; M2 (n = 6): laparotomy males; M3 (n = 20): jaundiced males. Jaundice was obtained by ligation and section of the biliopancreatic duct. The animal weights were recorded weekly for seven weeks. On the 14th day of the experiment, bilirubin and gonadal hormones were assessed. After the seventh week a histological study of the liver was performed.


RESULTS
The animals in groups F3 and M3 showed elevated bilirubin and decreased body mass when compared to the other groups. The weight differences were significant from the fourth week on amongst females and from the fifth in males. In Jaundiced animals there was increased estradiol and decreased progesterone and testosterone. Perivenular septa and periportal fibrosis, cholangitis and bile duct hyperplasia occurred in the liver of jaundiced rats. No animal showed cirrhosis.


CONCLUSIONS
There was decrease in murine body weight in the presence of cholestatic jaundice in both genders.
Faculty of Medicine of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, and Alfa Institute of Gastroenterology, UFMG Clinics Hospital, Minas Gerais – MG, Brazil
Leonardo de Souza
Lde S
Vasconcellos
Luiz Ronaldo
LR
Alberti
Juliana Ribeiro
JR
Romeiro
Andy
A
Petroianu
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D041781:Jaundice, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar