Stimulation of taurocholic acid synthesis and biliary excretion of lipids

Abstract

The rates of excretion of taurocholic acid and lipids in the bile of the isolated perfused liver and the bile fistula rat were determined. In the bile fistula rats, there was, during the first 12 hours after cannulation, a fall in the excretion of taurocholic acid, which was then followed by an increase in the rate of excretion. The excretion of free cholesterol and phospholipids followed the same excretion pattern as for taurocholic acid, whereas the biliary excretion of glycerides and cholesterol esters was nearly constant. Livers perfused immediately after cannulation of the bile duct excreted only very small amounts of bile acids and lipids in the bile. On the other hand, when livers were perfused 48 hours after cannulation, the bile acids were excreted at a greatly accelerated rate and increased amounts of free cholesterol and phospholipids appeared in the bile. The infusion of cholic acid into a liver, perfused immediately after cannulation of the bile duct, gave rise to an increased biliary excretion of bile acids, free cholesterol and phospholipids.