A Rat Model for Sepsis in Chronic Biliary Obstruction

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Abstract
The effect of retrograde intrabiliary (RI) injection Escherichia coli was studied in Sprague-Dawley rats with and without chronic biliary obstruction. The challenge dose of E. coli was standardized by the use of frozen (-80.degree. C) aliquots of bacteria. Injection of 102, 105, or 108 colony-forming units (CFU), respectively, into 3 groups of 8 normal rats, immediately after occlusion of the common bile duct, did not kill any of the animals. Of 8 animals with chronic biliary obstruction, 5 died from E. coli sepsis after RI injection of 102 bacteria (P < 0.05). All of 4 obstructed animals died after challenge with 105 CFU (P < 0.01), as compared to the 8 normal rats surviving this dose. I.p. injection of 105 E. coli did not kill any of 6 animals with 3 wk biliary obstruction. Thus, chronic biliary obstruction and RI injection are prerequisites for the occurrence of lethal septicemia in the animals. The model might be suitable for the study of biliary sepsis in chronic biliary obstruction.