Removal of Radioactive Gold Colloid by the Perfused Mammalian Liver

Abstract

A perfused, bile-producing mammalian liver was used to study the clearance of radiogold colloid from the blood during one hepatic passage. The rate at which colloid was removed by the liver, when presented with a nearly constant load without recirculation, increased in a nearly linear manner with time and also with the total amt. of colloid presented. These findings suggest that normally only part of the hepatic removal mechanism is active and a large dormant portion can become active when- needed. No direct relationship was evident between % of colloid removed and blood flow. When colloid was presented to the liver for a 2d circulation, the % removed was less than on the 1st circulation.