Bile Secretion in Hemoglobin-Free Perfused Rat Liver

Abstract

Hb-free perfused rat liver was a suitable experimental model in studying bile secretion. Bile flow slowly decreased to > 3 h of perfusion. Despite differences in metabolic states, the bile flow was the same in the recirculating as in the nonrecirculating mode of perfusion. Sulfobromophthalein stimulated bile flow at high rates of infusion. In bile, the ratio of conjugated to unconjugated sulfobromophthalein also increased with sulfobromophthalein infusion rate. The access of [14C]insulin, [14C]sucrose and 32P from perfusate into bile was restricted. Bile flow, secretion of taurocholate and sulfobromophthalein, and bile pressure are compared with values from anesthetized animals and from isolated livers perfused with medium containing erythrocytes.