Evaluation of the mitochondrial respiration of cardiac myocytes in rats submitted to mechanical bile duct obstruction

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the capacity of the myocardium for energy production by the analysis of mitochondrial respiration in rats with jaundice submitted to bile duct ligature. Sixteen male Wistar rats were divided into 2 Groups: Group SO submitted to nontherapeutic laparotomy (sham operation) and Group IC (icteric group) submitted to bile duct ligature. After 7 days, laparotomy was again performed in all animals for cardiac muscle extraction and analysis. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption was determined by stage 3 velocity and stage 4 velocity. The respiratory control ratio (RCR) was obtained by the ratio of stage 3 to stage 4 velocity. Statistical analysis was performed by the Mann-Whitney test, with the level of significance set at 5% (p