The role of small intestine and kidney in bromosulphthalein conjugation

1. The roles of the kidney and the small intestine in the conjugation of bromosulphthalein have been compared with that of the liver. 2. Studies with homogenates indicated that the liver has a higher bromosulphthalein-glutathione-conjugating activity than the intestine and kidney. The reduced glutathione content of the liver is greater than that of the small intestine and kidneys, which contain comparable amounts. 3. Experiments in vitro with tissue slices confirmed that the three organ are able to extract significant amount of bromosulphthalein. In carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic necrosis the uptake and conjugation of the dye by the liver were reduced but were increased in the kidney and unchanged in the small intestine. 4. After an intravenous injection of bromosulphthalein, the percentages conjugated in the liver, kidney and gut were similar.