[Acute hypercapnia and bile. Experimental studies in the rat (author's transl)]

The bile acid-base parameters are analyzed in 42 male Wistar rats under pentobarbital anaesthesia, in normal conditions of blood acid-base equilibrium. The reproducibility of the results is emphasized. In acute hypercapnia (FICO2 : 0.12 for 15 min) without hypoxia, and for the same increase in PCO2, and pH variation is lesser in bile than in blood, thus showing an high buffer capacity. In vitro and in vivo comparative studies show that bile buffer capacity is about five times higher in vivo, independently of a possible increase in choleresis. Comparative studies of bile-acid-base equilibrium are effected during perfusions of dehydrocholate, sodium taurocholate, secretin and acetazolamide. Sodium and chlorine remain stable during hypercapnia both in blood and in bile ; potassium concentration is increased in the two media. To explain these results, the role of the liver is still to specify.