Active amino-acid and sugar uptake by gall bladder epithelium in dog, guinea-pig and man

Slices of dog gall bladder are capable of accumulating amino-acids and sugars against considerable concentration gradients across the luminal membrane of the cell. The epithelium of the common bile duct also absorbs these substrates. The transport systems are sodium-dependent, saturable and inhibited by ouabain and metabolic poisons. The specificity of the mechanisms is more reminiscent of kidney than of intestinal transport. Glycine is preferentially transported across dog gall bladder from the mucosa to the serosa, but the net flux is small. It is concluded that the contraluminal membrane of the epithelial cell might be relatively impermeable to the amino-acid. concentrative uptake also occurs in guinea-pig gall bladder; however it appears to be practically non-existent in rabbit tissue. Human gall bladders, obtained at random from the operating room, also displayed active accumulation. The gall bladder epithelium is remarkably resistant to anoxia. Furthermore, following obstruction of the common bile duct for 2 weeks in dogs, the gall bladder is still able to concentrate amino-acids and sugars, but the extent of the uptake is significantly reduced.