[Hepatotoxicity of the ursodeoxycholic acid in hamsters. Evaluation by electronic microscopy]

To investigate ursodeoxycholic acid (Urso) action on liver histology, 30 male hamsters were allocated to 2 groups of 15 animals each; one group was treated with Urso, and the other one acted as control. Thirty days later, a light and electron microscopy study of the liver of all the animals was performed. All the group receiving Urso acid revealed minimal changes consisting in hepatocytic nuclear vacuolization around the centrelobulilla area; the vacuoles were homogeneous and contained a pale basofilic material. Neither inflammatory lesions nor hepatic cell necrosis was observed. Electron microscopy showed folding of the nuclear membrane corresponding to vacuoles observed under light microscopy. Further studies must be carried out to make clear the meaning of our findings and to confirm or otherwise rectify Urso inocuity on the liver of hamsters.