Background and aim: The liver and small intestine play an important role in maintaining cholesterol and bile acid balance within the body. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of bile duct ligation (BDL) on the expression of intestinal and hepatic genes that are important for cholesterol and bile acid metabolism.
Methods: Rats were allocated to the BDL group or the sham operation group. Blood, liver and small intestine were obtained after 24, 72 and 168 h from both groups. Serum and hepatic lipids were measured by colorimetric assays and hepatic and intestinal mRNA related to lipid metabolism was studied by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Results: Hepatic apolipoprotein (Apo) AIV, multidrug resistant protein (Mrp)2, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding cassette transporter (Abc)g5 and Abcg8 expression constantly decreased after BDL. Intestinal Apo AIV, Apo CIII, Mrp2, Abcg5 and Abcg8 expression remarkably decreased 24 h after BDL and recovered 72 and 168 h after BDL. Hepatic small heterodimer partner (Shp) expression did not change after BDL. Conversely, intestinal Shp expression remarkably decreased 24 h after BDL (16% of sham operation) and slightly recovered 168 h after BDL (58% of sham operation).
Conclusion: Several intestinal mRNA expressions important for lipid (Apo AIV, Apo CIII, Abcg5 and Abcg8) and bile acid (Mrp2 and Shp) metabolism were decreased in the early phase of obstructive jaundice and the expression of these intestinal mRNA recovered in the late phase of obstructive jaundice.