Activities of APh, gamma-GT, GlDH and GPT and bile acid concentrations in serum after bile duct obstruction and cycloheximide in the rat.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide on the serum activities of gamma-Glutamyltransferase, Glutamate dehydrogenase and Glutamate pyruvate transaminase after bile duct obstruction in rats. The results showed that the increase of these enzyme activities after bile duct obstruction is further augmented by cycloheximide. Determinations of total bile acids in serum and liver showed that also the bile acid concentrations rise to a higher level after bile duct obstruction + cycloheximide than after bile duct obstruction alone. It is concluded that the effect of cycloheximide on the serum enzyme activities in extrahepatic cholestasis is produced via an influence on the metabolism of bile acids. This stresses the central role of bile acids for alterations of enzyme activities in extrahepatic cholestasis. Further, the effect of cycloheximide on bile acids after bile duct obstruction has not been reported before.