Plasma bile acids, lactate dehydrogenase and sulphobromophthalein retention test in canine carbon tetrachloride intoxication

Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae) cultivated in Brazil on acute liver disease in dogs

ABSTRACT Bidens pilosa L. is a medicinal plant popularly used for treatment of liver diseases. In this study, the dry extract of aerial parts of Bidens pilosa and Silymarin, a phytocomplex obtained from the Silybum marianum fruits and marketed as hepatoprotective, were tested in dogs experimentally acutely intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride. The liver activity was evaluated by hematological and biochemical profiles, and histological and ultrasound analyzes. It was observed that the lowest serum activities of ALT and serum concentrations of total bilirubin occurred in the groups treated with the dry extract of Bidens pilosa, while only decreased serum concentrations of total bilirubin occurred in the group treated with Silymarin. Best liver recovery was also observed for the dry extract of B. pilosa at a 400mg/Kg dose by ultrasonography. This study showed that the dry extract of Bidens pilosa acted more efficiently in the treatment of acute toxic hepatitis induced in dogs than Silymarin.

Pre- and postprandial total serum bile acid concentration following acute liver damage in dogs

The importance of preprandial and postprandial total bile acids were investigated in dogs with liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration. Six healthy and mature dogs were used. After base-line clinical and biochemical examinations, hepatocellular damage was induced by oral CCl4 administration. Determinations of plasma total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), total and direct bilirubin (TBil, DBil), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphate (ALP) along with histologic examination of the livers 10 days following CCl4 administration were conducted to ensure that hepatic damage was in fact induced by the CCl4 administration. Twelve h fasting preprandial and 2 h postprandial serum total bile acids (PRSBA, POSBA) concentrations were also measured. The median plasma TP, Alb, TBil and DBil concentrations did not show any difference (P > 0.05) during the study. Plasma ALT activities increased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) between on the 3rd and 10th days of the experiment. The median serum values of PRSBA and POSBA were significantly different (P < 0.01) on the first day and continued to be different during the experiment. In conclusion, POSBA seemed to be more reliable than PRSBA in the diagnosis of hepatic necrosis.

Serum bile acids in companion animal medicine

Quantification of total serum bile acids is used as a method for appraising liver function and perfusion in contemporary small animal practice. This article provides a historical perspective and a comprehensive review of bile acid physiology, laboratory methodologies for bile acid quantification, and normal values published for total serum bile acids measured using the spectrophotometric enzymatic method and for serum bile acids measured using validated radioimmunoassay procedures. The variables influencing the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids and, consequently, the fasting and postprandial serum bile acid concentrations are discussed with the intent of clarifying the application of test results to clinical patients. A brief discussion of the therapeutic use of dehydrocholate and ursodeoxycholic acid in clinical patients is provided.