BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), glutamine and i.v. polyclonal immunoglobulins (IVIG) on the bacterial translocation (BT) and intestinal integrity of obstructive jaundice (OJ) in an animal model. METHODS: Fifty rats were randomized into five groups containing 10 rats each. All procedures were performed aseptically under general anaesthesia using intramuscular ketamine (25 mg/kg). The abdomen was opened and the common bile duct was identified, mobilized, doubly ligated using 5-0 silk and divided. In group 1 (the 'sham' group), the rats had a similar incision followed by mobilization of the common bile duct (CBD), without ligation or division. In group 2 rats, only common bile duct ligation (CBDL) was performed. In group 3, CBDL was performed and UDCA was administered by orogastric intubation once daily. In group 4 rats, CBDL was performed and glutamine was given by orogastric intubation once daily. Therapeutic substances were started orally on the day CBDL was fulfilled and were continued for 7 days. In group 5, IVIG was administrated via a femoral vein catheter just before CBDL. The animals were killed at the end of the 7th day, and serum levels of total bilirubin (TB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were measured. Mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), liver, spleen and blood were cultured. The terminal ileum specimens were examined histopathologically. RESULTS: Bacterial translocation significantly increased in the MLN and spleen of rats in group 2 as compared to groups 3, 4 and 5 (P < 0.05, P = 0.001, P = 0.001, respectively). The BT of the liver in group 2 was significantly higher than that of group 5 (P < 0.05). In the blood, the BT was significantly higher in group 2 than groups 3, 4 and 5 (P < 0.05). The bacterial counts, colony-forming units per gram tissue (cfu/g), were found significantly higher in MLN, liver and spleen of rats in group 2 than those of groups 3, 4 and 5 (P = 0.000). The average villus height in the group 4 was significantly higher than that of groups 2, 3 and 5 (P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: The present experimental study has demonstrated that the administration of glutamine, UDCA and IVIG reduce the incidence of BT and additionally glutamine preserves intestinal mucosal integrity.