[Toxicity of cholestatic bile acids on intrahepatic biliary cells of the rat].

The aim of this study is: 1. to isolate intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells and, 2. to study the toxicity of cholestatic biliary acids on these cells. Cells were isolated from rats with proliferated bile duct-cells, that were induced by a 21 days bile duct ligation. They were characterized by glutamyltranspeptidase and cytokeratins 7 and 19 using histochemical or immuno cytochemical methods. Isolated cells were incubated with different concentrations (250, 500, 1000 and 2000 microM) of cholestatic biliary acids, lithocholate sulfate (LCS) and taurolithocholate sulfate (TLCS. Cells viability is estimated by three methods: Trypan blue, LDH release and MTT test. We obtained purified fractions of non parenchymal liver cells enriched in biliary epithelial cells (> 95%). On these cells, we showed toxicity of LCS and TLCS and determined CI 10 and CI 50 of these acids which were respectively 800 microM and 2 mM for LCS; 1.4 and 2 mM for TLCS. These results indicate that cholestatic biliary acids (LCS and TLCS) are toxic for biliary cells. This cytotoxicity can be probably a possible mechanism of cholestasis.