The experimental study of 16 female rats and their 19 infants by histological, cytochemical methods with the subsequent morphometric, cytophotometric and statistical analysis showed that subhepatic obstructive cholestasis simulated on the 17 th day of pregnancy caused delayed development of colonic wall membranes and the formation of folds and crypts in the 15-day offspring. Decrease in the activity of succinate dehydrogenase, NADH dehydrogenase and elevation of lactic dehydrogenase in the superficial epithelial cells indicates the disturbed energy metabolism that leads to the inhibition of cell differentiation and synthetic processes in the cells. The latter is confirmed by the decrease in glycoproteins and sialomusines in the epithelial cells.

The review presents the data about the influence of biliary system pathology on the development of changes in the endocrine organs which may have serious consequences for the whole body as hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal axis disorders evidence the presence of multiple organ failure.