Transient functional impairment of renal cation and water transport and nonspecific morphological changes in the proximal convoluted tubule occur 3 to 4 days following bile duct ligation in rats. These functional and morphological changes occurred when plasma total and urinary bile acids were at their peaks. Although it is tempting to equate association with causality, we cannot implicate bile acids as being responsible for the aberrations in renal function and structure following BDL. Accordingly, we have concluded that elevated plasma concentrations of bile acids are renal exacerbates acting in concert with other factors, be they prerenal or renal in origin to precipitate a cascade of events leading to postoperative renal failure in cholestasis.

The fatty acid composition of milk samples from Ayrshire twin cows was determined. The results were in general agreement with those reported by other workers. Comparisons between the variation within pairs of one and two-egg twins showed that the proportions of different fatty acids are subject to a high degree of genetic control.

1. This paper provides further information on the mineral content of the milk of Clun Forest ewes, particularly those elements not dealt with in a previous paper, namely, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and certain trace elements.2. The average composition was as follows: calcium 0.200, magnesium 0.0147, sodium 0.046, potassium 0.168, phosphorus 0.140 and chlorine 0.076%; copper 0.22, iron 0.77, manganese 0.07 and aluminium 1.7 parts per million. Where possible the results are compared with those obtained by other workers for ewe's and cow's milk.3. Statistical analysis of the data showed that, with the exception of phosphorus, the content of major elements varied significantly during the lactation period. There was also a significant variation in all major elements between sheep.

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