[Histological changes in the brain due to experimental obstructive jaundice]

Histopathological changes and energy charge of the canine brain under the experimental obstructive jaundice were investigated. The common bile duct was ligated in group A (n = 25), and biliary decompression was carried out in group B after the duration of the obstructive jaundice, (n = 11). The results were as follows. 1) Simple atrophy, pyknosis, neuronophagia, and ghost cell were observed in nerve cells. 2) The changes of nerve cells appeared after 7 days of the obstructive jaundice at the basal ganglia, putamen and red nucleus. After 13 days of the obstructive jaundice, they spread widely to the thalamus, cerebral cortex and substantia nigra. 3) According to decreasing ratio of serum bilirubin concentration, B group was classified into 4 groups. Poorly decompressed groups III and IV showed severe histological changes than fairy decompressed groups I and II. 4) Energy charge of the substantia nigra after 7 days of the obstructive jaundice decreased to 0.65 comparing with 0.77 of control group. The results indicate that obstructive jaundice should be decompressed as early as possible.