Potentiation of lithocholic-acid-induced cholestasis by methyl isobutyl ketone.

Methyl isobutyl ketone was found to potentiate intrahepatic cholestasis induced by taurolithocholate and the combination of manganese-bilirubin. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of this potentiation using the lithocholate-induced cholestasis model. Male rats were given methyl isobutyl ketone 7.5 mumol/kg body wt. daily for 3 days. The effect of this treatment on lithocholate-induced cholestasis, bile formation and taurocholic acid transport was examined. The data showed that methyl isobutyl ketone treatment potentiated lithocholate-induced cholestasis and reduced significantly bile salt, phospholipid and cholesterol secretion rates as well as the transport maximum of taurocholic acid. It is suggested that methyl isobutyl ketone potentiates lithocholate-induced cholestasis by reducing the bile salt pool and interfering with the haptic secretion rate of bile salts.