BACKGROUND: Extrahepatic biliary obstruction promotes intestinal translocation of bacteria and endotoxin and this process is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with jaundice. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect and mechanism of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) and to alleviate intestinal translocation of bacteria and endotoxin in murine obstructive jaundice.
METHODS: A group of 42 Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups:sham operation(SO), bile duct ligation (BDL), and BDL and rhGH treatment(rhGH). By the end of the experiment, on day 7,the animals were killed, and their liver function and serum endotoxin were measured, bacterial cultures of the liver, kidney and mesenchymal lymph were made. Terminal ileum mucosa was observed under an electron microscope.
RESULTS: Liver function was improved more significantly in the rhGH group than in the BDL group. The value of endotoxin in the rhGH group was 0.38±0.03 EU/ml，significantly lower than that in the BDL group (0.65±0.04 EU/ml, P<0.01), and similar to that in the SO group (0.30±0.02 EU/ml, P>0.05). The rate of bacteria translocation in the liver, kidney and mesenteric lymph was much higher in the BDL group than in other two groups. The rate of bacteria translocation in mesenteric lymph was 64.29%，significantly higher than that in the SO group and the rhGH group（P<0.05）. There was no significant difference in bacteria translocation rate between the SO group and the rhGH group（P>0.05）. Under an electron microscope, ileum mucosa epithelial cells in the BDL group were necrotic, and organelle were markedly metamorphic. In the rhGH group, ultrastructural changes were less evident or similar to those in the SO group.
CONCLUSION: rhGH has significant protective effects on intestinal mucosa barrier in obstructive jaundice, and reduces intestinal translocation of bacteria and endotoxin.