Bilirubin excretion and bile flow in fed and fasted Brazilian squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus)

Fasted Brazilian squirrel monkeys (BrSMs) exhibited slightly higher serum bilirubin levels (0.30 +/- 0.05 mg/dl) than others in the fed state (0.13 +/- 0.01). The mean liver weight was 50% lower following a 22 h fast. The rate of bile flow was unaffected by fasting and averaged 13.8 microliters/min/kg and 47.5 microliters/min/100g liver in six BrSMs. No significant difference in mean bilirubin excretion/min was observed on a body weight basis following fasting. When the mean rate of bilirubin excretion was calculated as a function of liver weight, a two-fold higher rate was present in fasted monkeys, but only at the p = 0.06 level of statistical significance. From data collected in this and earlier studies, it would appear that BrSMs represent the best animals studied to date to serve as experimental controls in comparative studies with Bolivian squirrel monkeys which exhibit a Gilbert-like syndrome.