Ursodeoxycholate has no beneficial effect on liver function or histology in biliary cirrhosis in the rat

In different cholestatic conditions, the beneficial effects of the tertiary bile acid, ursodeoxycholate, have been described. It is unclear, however, whether ursodeoxycholate also affects the functional and structural alterations induced by chronic biliary obstruction. Therefore, we studied the effect of ursodeoxycholate (100 mg/kg/day) on microsomal function as assessed in vivo by the aminopyrine breath test, on portal hypertension and on the structural composition of the liver in rats with chronic (3-week) biliary obstruction. Hepatic composition was assessed stereologically. Ursodeoxycholate had no effect on any of the parameters measured. We conclude that this form of treatment does not affect advanced liver disease due to common bile duct obstruction. This finding supports one of the proposed mechanisms of action of ursodeoxycholate, namely that it interferes with the ileal absorption of more toxic endogenous bile salts.