Background:
The aim of the study was to find out the influence of excess copper and zinc ions in drinking water on the bile-forming and bile-secreting functions of the liver in the conditions of mechanical trauma and the effectiveness of the antidote therapy.

Material and methods:
The experiments were performed on 60 Wistar strain male rats weighing 180-200 g. There were 3 groups of experimental animals in the experiment: 1 group – only skeletal trauma was simulated; 2 group – a skeletal injury was simulated and zinc and copper salts were administered; 3 group – skeletal trauma + zinc and copper salts followed by Unithiol treatment.

Results:
In the late period of traumatic illness (14-28 days), after a severe skeletal injury, the intensity of bromsulfalein increased in the liver tissue, and there were signs of increased formation of direct bilirubin in terms of additional intake of copper and zinc ions. The animals with severe skeletal trauma were accompanied by a significant deterioration in the functional state of the liver in comparison to the animals with similar skeletal trauma without additional intoxication.

Conclusions:
Under conditions of additional intake of copper and zinc ions (in the 2nd group), after 14 days and 28 days of observation, all the studied indicators are much higher than in the group of the animals without additional intoxication with these ions. The use of Unithiol reduced the toxic effect of copper and zinc ions on the studied indicators of the functional state of the liver both in the early and late period of the traumatic disease.