Histological and biochemical changes induced by total bile duct ligation in the rat.

The aim of the present investigation was to assess in a correlated biochemical and morphological study the dynamics of fibrogenesis after bile duct ligation and to compare the time course of alterations with those occurring in thioacetamide induced liver fibrosis. The data show that, after bile duct obstruction, the deposition of connective tissue elements and formation of ductular proliferates rapidly set in. The index of fibroplasia correlated well with the changes of the OH-proline concentration of the liver. Comparing the biliary fibrosis with the thioacetamide induced liver fibrosis, the progress of the former occurred more rapidly, even though in both cases only a few necroses were observed. Therefore, we suggest that in biliary fibrosis other mechanisms are responsible for the rapid onset of production of extracellular material and proliferative processes than in thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis.