Increased Cardiac Endocrine Activity After Common Bile Duct Ligation in the Rabbit Atrial Endocrine Cells in Obstructive Jaundice

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the pathogenesis of water and sodium metabolism derangements in obstructive jaundice. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Obstructive jaundice is associated with hypodipsia, depletion of extracellular water, alterations of the water and sodium regulating hormones, and an increased incidence of renal failure. Plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) increases after common bile duct ligation in the rabbit. The present study was designed to investigate ANF-secreting cardiac atrial cells in this animal model. METHODS: Plasma ANF and the percentage of atrial cells staining for ANF were determined in jaundiced and sham-operated rabbits at 24 (group OJ-24, n = 11; group SO-24, n = 5) and 72 hours (group OJ-72, n = 11; group SO-72, n = 5) after surgery. The atrial ANF content was also determined. RESULTS: Plasma ANF was higher in jaundiced animals than in controls both at 24 (63 +/- 44 fmol/mL vs. 17 +/- 10 fmol/mL, p < 0.02) and at 72 hours (73 +/- 49 fmol/mL vs. 12 +/- 11 fmol/mL). In the two OJ groups, the percentage of positive ANF cells per 200-power field in the right atrial appendage was higher than in the SO groups both at 24 (62 +/- 11% vs. 31 +/- 12%, p < 0.003) and at 72 hours (56 +/- 18% vs. 31 +/- 12%, p < 0.01). Similar results were obtained in the right auricular wall. The percentage of positive ANF cells was significantly higher in the left atrium in which significant differences between the OJ and SO groups were also noted. The right atrial ANF content was higher in the OJ than in SO groups (437 +/- 323 pmol/mg of protein vs. 83 +/- 44 pmol/mg of protein). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac endocrine activity is increased in experimental obstructive jaundice. ANF may be involved in the pathogenesis of the renal and water and sodium metabolic disturbances present in this disease.