Endotoxaemia and hepatic injury in obstructive jaundice.

To examine whether endotoxaemia contributes to the development of bile infarction and whether obstructive jaundice enhances endotoxin hepatotoxicity, the present study was undertaken in rats. The development of bile infarction and the elevation of serum transaminase activities in rats following ligation of the common bile duct were not prevented by administration of polymyxin B, neomycin, or lactulose, which have anti-endotoxin properties. Moreover, the morphological and functional changes in obstructive jaundice were not enhanced by administration of endotoxin. These data indicate that endotoxaemia does not contribute to the development of bile infarction. On the other hand, the administration of a small dose of endotoxin to rats with biliary obstruction--a dose which does not induce abnormalities of liver function tests or any morphological changes in the liver in non-jaundiced rats--led to focal hepatocellular coagulative necrosis and elevation of serum transaminase levels. These data indicate that endotoxin-induced hepatic injury is potentiated in obstructive jaundice.