Effect of acid-base balance on biliary bicarbonate secretion in the isolated perfused guinea pig liver

Secretin-induced choleresis is of ductal origin and involves bicarbonate transport. Its mechanism is unknown. To determine the relative effects of systemic pH, PCO2, and bicarbonate concentration on secretin-stimulated bicarbonate transport, states of acute metabolic and respiratory acidosis or alkalosis were created in isolated perfused guinea pig livers with or without secretin infusion. During spontaneous secretion conditions, biliary bicarbonate secretion was not correlated with perfusate pH (7.19-7.62) or perfusate PCO2 (23.9-59.7) but was significantly correlated with perfusate bicarbonate concentration (17.5-37.9 mM). Under secretion infusion (25 mU/min), bile flow and biliary bicarbonate concentration increased significantly (109 and 51%, respectively). Biliary bicarbonate secretion was not correlated with perfusate pH (7.19-7.60) but was significantly correlated both with perfusate bicarbonate concentration (14.6-36.8 mM) and PCO2 (25.8-54.3 mmHg). Spontaneous and secretin-induced bile flow were correlated with biliary bicarbonate concentration. The correlation between biliary bicarbonate secretion and PCO2 during secretin-induced choleresis supports the hypothesis that secretin-induced biliary bicarbonate secretion could, at least in part, involve a transport of H+ (or OH-) rather than HCO3- itself and that intracellular pH could play a role in the regulation of this secretion. Amiloride (5 X 10(-4) M) did not influence secretin-induced biliary bicarbonate secretion. This result suggests that the Na(+)-H+ exchange is not involved in bicarbonate secretion by ductular cells.