BACKGROUND: Progression to hepatic fibrosis, and later to cirrhosis, is a well-established fact. Despite the advances in the diagnostic and therapeutic methods, this syndrome continues to be of difficult solution, especially when it is not possible to reverse the cause of cholestasis. The development of new therapeutic proposals is necessary in order to prevent the occurrence of hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis.The present study, conducted on an experimental model of cholestasis induced by ligation of the common bile duct, was carried out in order to determine whether exclusion of the terminal ileum would reduced the development of hepatic fibrosis. There was no direct approach to the cause of cholestasis, but there was an intervention in the mechanisms of secretion and regulation of enterohepatic bile flow. METHODS: Thirty-five female Wistar rats were divided into three groups: Group 1 was submitted only to laparotomy and laparorrhaphy, Group 2 to ligation of the common bile duct, and Group 3 to ligation of the common bile duct in combination with resection of the terminal ileum, with reconstruction of intestinal transit by means of an ileum-ascending colon anastomosis. After 30 days the animals were killed and the liver of each rat was removed for histological analysis. RESULTS: The results were analyzed the Kruskal-Wallis test, with the level of significance set at 95 % (p < 0.05). Hepatic fibrosis, but not cirrhosis, was detected in Groups 2 and 3. Group 3 presented less marked fibrosis than Group 2. CONCLUSION: We conclude that resection of the terminal ileum is associated with less marked histological alterations due to obstructive cholestasis in the liver of female rats.
Liver; Cholestasis extrahepatic; Liver cirrhosis; Common bile duct; Ileum
