Bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and transaminases in blood and lymph during biliary obstruction in the cat.

Abstract

The mechanism of hyperbilirubinemia and enzyme disturbances in acute biliary stasis have been studied experimentally in the cat. Obstruction of the common bile duct (I) and retrograde infusion of BSP and bilirubin solution (II) into the common bile duct towards the liver at pressures exceeding the maximal secretory level was performed. From these studies the following conclusions may be drawn: (1) In biliary stasis bile products simultaneously reach the blood through the hepatic vein and the liver lymph. The role of the lymphatic pathways to the accumulation of bile products seems to be minimal. (2) The rise in alkaline phosphatase activity in lymph and blood after biliary stasis is only moderate in the cat. (3) After biliary stasis there is a significant increase in transaminase activity in both blood and lymph.