BILIARY TRANSPORT AND HEPATIC STORAGE OF SULFO-BROMOPHTHALEIN SODIUM IN THE UNANESTHETIZED DOG, IN NORMAL MAN, AND IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATIC DISEASE *

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Hepatic BSP removal rate (R) during constant BSP infusion may be defined by the equation R = Tm + S[center dot][image] where Tm is the maximal biliary secretion rate, S is the "relative storage capacity" defined as the number of milligrams of BSP stored in the liver per mg% of plasma concentration, and [image] is the rate of change of plasma concentration. The 2 unknowns, Tm and S, may be determined by the solution of simultaneous equations from values for R and ([image]) obtained at different constant rates of BSP infusion. In 6 dogs, BSP Tm averaged 1.9 mg/min./10 kg body weight, and S was 25 mg/mg%/10 kg body weight. The maximal rate of biliary BSP excretion (measured colorimetrically) in the dog was 87.5 [plus or minus] SD 13.4% of the value for Tm. Direct transport of BSP from hepatic parenchymal storage into bile was demonstrated by the fact that excretory rate was maintained at a time when hepatic uptake from plasma was inhibited by sodium dehydrocholate (2 dogs). In 19 normal human subjects Tm was 8.6 [plus or minus] SD 1.9 mg/min, and S was 63 [plus or minus] SD 25 mg/ mg%. Both values were diminished in patients with obstructive or hepatocellular jaundice. In 3 patients with Dubin-Johnson syndrome the value for Tm approached zero while the relative storage capacity was entirely normal.