Hepatic Bile Formation

Abstract

Bile-Acid-Independent Bile FlowSodium transport is under investigation as a physiologic mechanism for the generation of the bile-acid-independent fraction of canalicular bile flow. The electrolyte content of bile at low bile acid output consists mostly of inorganic sodium salts. Since it is known that sodium transport provides an osmotic gradient for bulk water flow across other membranes, interest has centered on its role in hepatic bile formation.Studies of the sodium-potassium gradient across erythrocyte membranes have led to the recognition of a membrane carrier.³⁷ A specific macromolecule in the membrane continually transfers sodium outwardly and potassium inwardly. Energy for the . . .