OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING PRODUCTION AND EXCRETION OF CHOLESTEROL IN MAMMALS. II. EXCRETION OF BILE IN THE RAT

Abstract

The common bile ducts of 14 rats were cannulated proximal to the entrance of the principal pancreatic duct with polyethylene tubing of 0.011 inch internal diam. The tubing was tunneled from the peritoneal cavity under the skin to emerge from the foot pad and led through the bottom of the cage to empty into a collecting flask. The "secretory" pressure averaged 23 cm. of bile, the biliary flow 5.03 cc/100 g./24 hrs. The avg. specific gravity was 1.011. The avg. pH of 24 hr. sample stored in air was 8.3. The concn. of free cholesterol, substantially equal to total cholesterol, was 8.1-18 mg.%, or 1.2-2.8 mg. total excre-tion/rat/24 hrs., averaging 1.8 mg.%. The bilirubin content was 0.75-1.7 mg./rat/24 hrs., an avg. of 1.2 mg.