Abstract: | The influence of raw grass carp bile on gastrointestinal motility was studied in conscious rats. It was found that the toxic bile prolonged the gastric emptying time, increased a marker substance traversed along the small intestine and accelerated the transit time along the colon. These findings might be explained by a very efficient protective response of the digestive system, and/or poisoning effect of the invading toxic substance in rats. Accumulation of fluid was found in the stomach, 20 min after ingestion of 0.3 ml of the toxic bile. Besides, ingestion of the raw bile also increased the urea nitrogen in blood, which may result from a loss of fluid volume through the gastrointestinal tract and (or) a direct action of the bile on the kidneys. |