Biliverdin and bilirubin excretion in the turkey

Mean endogenous bile flow in 11 turkeys was 0.81 plus or minus 0.52 mul/g of the liver per minute (10.4 plus or minus 5.3 mul/Kg of body weight per minute). Endogenous biliverdin and bilirubin excretory rates were 0.59 plus or minus 0.31 and 0.058 plus or minus 0.018 mug/g of liver per minute (7.6 plus or minus 3.6 and 0.76 plus or minus 0.23 mug/Kg of body weight per minute), respectively. Mean concentrations of biliverdin and bilirubin in endogenous bile were 92 plus or minus 55 and 8.9 plus or minus 5.2 mg/100 ml, respectively. Livers constituted 1.36 plus or minus 0.22 percent of the body weight. Thin layer chromatographic studies revealed a heterogeneity of bilirubin conjugates in bile.