Congruence of excretory functions of liver and kidney: sulfonamides

Abstract

Excretion of 20 sulfonamides by isolated perfused rat livers was compared with reported behavior of the same compounds in renal excretory processes. Extensive metabolic alteration of most compounds by liver was demonstrated. Metabolites were isolated and examined for participation in renal transport. In general, compounds that were actively transported by kidney were highly concentrated in hepatic bile. In both organs the excretory process could be inhibited by probenecid. Conversely, compounds that were not transported by kidney were poorly concentrated in hepatic bile. In both organs excretion of such compounds was uninfluenced by probenecid. Liver and kidney possess a similar mechanism for excretory transport of organic anlons such as sulfonamides and that substrate specificities for transport are identical in the 2 organs.