Erythrocyte membrane abnormalities in experimental biliary obstruction: comparative studies on erythrocyte membranes from rats with intra- and extrahepatic cholestasis.

The red blood cells from rats with intra- and extrahepatic cholestasis obtained by feeding of alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) and ligation of bile duct, respectively, were analysed from biochemical as well as ultrastructural point of view. A significant increase of cholesterol content was observed in the red cell membrane from bile duct-ligated rat. An increment of absolute lecithin content without accompanied increase in phospholipid content was observed in both groups. The fatty acyl chain composition of lecithin remained unchanged except a small increase in stearic acid (13.0% leads to 18.1%) in the bile duct-ligated rat. Despite a small change in the lipid composition, scanning electron microscopic observation revealed a profound alteration in red cell ultrastructure; most of cells were in spur type in ANIT-fed group while variations in red cell shape were observed in bile duct-ligated group.