To investigate the mechanisms of hepatic injury after biliary obstruction. After a rat model of complete biliary obstruction(CBO) was induced, hepatocyte mitochondria was isolated and the calcium content of mitochondria, the contents of liver malondialdyhyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), the levels of serum T-Bil, ALT, ALP and GGT were measured in each group. Results: After CBO, mitochondrial calcium content, liver MDA and serum T-Bil, ALT, ALP, GGT became increased progressively, compared with control group (Ｐ＜0.05); the liver SOD was decreased markedly (Ｐ＜0.05). Mitochondrial calcium content was highly positively correlated with liver MDA content, serum ALT and ALP, r values were 0.967, 0.924 and 0.919 respectively (Ｐ＜0.01). The liver MDA content was highly positively correlated with serum ALT and ALP, r values were 0.949 and 0.843 respectively (Ｐ＜0.01). Conclusions: Mitochondrial calcium overload and liver lipid peroxidation may be the important mechanisms of hepatic injury induced by biliary obstruction.
