Effect of Various Steroids on the Hepatic Glucuronidation and Biliary Excretion of Bilirubin

Abstract

In rats, treatment with spironolactone or pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile (PCN) accelerates bile flow and enhances hepatic microsomal bilirubin–UDP glucuronyltransferase activity (EC 2.4.1.17) and the biliary transport maximum (Tm) of bilirubin. The distribution of ethylanthranilate azo-pigments in fractions separated by thin-layer chromatography also indicates increased glucuronidation of bilirubin. These findings explain the mechanism of enhanced serum bilirubin disappearance in rats treated with the steroids.