Role of Bile in Intestinal Motility After Massive Liver Resection in Conscious Rats

Abstract

To investigate the effect of 90% partial hepatectomy (90% PHx) and the involvement of bile on ileal motility in conscious rats. Two strain gauge force transducers were chronically implanted in the ileum of each of 20 rats. The rats were divided into four groups, three of which underwent 90% PHx. The experiments were performed with the rats in a conscious, fasted state. After ileal motility was recorded, bile or saline was perfused into the duodenum of each rat in two of the 90% PHx groups. The effects of the perfusion on ileal motility were observed and recorded using the motility index (MI), defined as the area under the contraction cues after surgery and expressed as the ratio to the MI in the preoperational motility. The time of the first passage of stool after surgery was recorded. A typical migrating motor complex (MMC) pattern was observed in normal fasted rats. Increased MMC cycle lengths and a decreased MI at 1 day and 3 days after 90% PHx were observed. The MMC after 90% PHx was characterized by an increased duration of Phase 2-like activity. The MMC cycle length, the MI, and the time of the first passage of stool after 90% PHx were improved by perfusion of bile into the duodenum through the biliary cannula but were not influenced by perfusion of saline into the duodenum through the biliary cannula. The MMC cycle length and the MI were inhibited after 90% PHx, with the involvement of decreased bile flow into the gastrointestinal tract by liver resection.