[Morphologic studies on the toxicity of sulfated and nonsulfated lithocholic acid in the isolation-perfused rat liver].

The isolated liver of male Sprague-Dawley rats was perfused by means of media containing lithocholic acid, taurolithocholic acid, lithocholic acid sulfate and taurolithocholic acid sulfate. 150 minutes later the tissue was being examined light- and electrone microscopically. After LC and TLC perfusion considerable alterations were found in the bile capillaries, in the ergastoplasm and minor ones in mitochondria. After perfusion with sulfate esters the tissue was unchanged. Our investigations have shown that sulfation provides a highly effective mechanism of detoxication in rats; but detoxication results not only in a decrease of reabsorption of excreted lithocholic acid sulfate esters but sulfation tenders the very lithocholic acid untoxic for the liver cell. The primary point of action of lithocholic acid seems to be the lipoprotein membrane.