THE REMOVAL OF INTRAVENOUSLY INJECTED BILIRUBIN FROM THE BLOOD STREAM IN THE DOG

Abstract

Bilirubin in amounts of 5-10 mgm. per kilo was injected into dogs and the plasma bilirubin levels detd. at S, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. In normal dogs removal was rapid, the 60 and 90 min. plasma samples containing practically no bilirubin. Removal was retarded by general anesthesia, prevented by liga-tion of the biliary ducts, and somewhat decreased by reticulo-endothelial blockade by India Ink. Decholin had little effect on the rate of removal under the above conditions except for some tendency to speed up the removal under general ansthesia. The 5 min. plasma level of bilirubin was only 40% of the theoretical. The authors believe that the initial rapid removal of bilirubin from the blood stream is brought about by agencies such as the reticulo-endothelial system, but that the subsequent and final removal is related to its excretion in the bile.