Bile protein secretion in the rat stimulated by taurocholate: effect of chloroquine

The biliary protein excretion during sodium taurocholate induced choleresis was studied in normal rats and in rats treated with the lysosomotropic agent, chloroquine. The analysis of the protein component in bile was made on SDS-polyacrilamide gel, and the individual polypeptides were quantitated by densitometry. The excretion of bile polypeptides was compared with that of lysosomal acid phosphatase. The biliary excretion of polypeptides of molecular mass lower than and equal to 54 kDa was markedly stimulated by taurocholate-induced choleresis. Chloroquine treatment of rats diminished the biliary excretion of such polypeptides and also inhibited their excretion induced by taurocholate. The behaviour of these polypeptides was well correlated to that of the lysosomal marker. The biliary excretion of polypeptide bands of a higher molecular mass (up to 140 kDa) did not show major changes during taurocholate-induced choleresis in any of the groups. The results indicate that biliary excretion of proteins in the rat may be either stimulated by taurocholate or may be independent of the bile salt. The former requires the functional integrity of chloroquine-sensitive hepatocyte compartments, which may involve the lysosomes.