Relationship between biliary calcium and bile acid secretion in the regenerating liver of the rat

Biliary calcium secretion during liver regeneration following two-thirds hepatectomy was studied in Wistar rats. Calcium output per 100 g body weight was significantly reduced at 24 h post-hepatectomy but not at other times. Values per gram of liver were significantly increased at 48 h and 96 h. A significant relationship was found between bile acid output and calcium output into bile both in controls and hepatectomized animals. The number of nmol of calcium secreted per nmol of bile acids was increased at 24 h post-hepatectomy parallel to an increased choleretic capacity of bile acids and a decrease in the fraction of bile acid independent flow. Our data confirm that bile acid secretion is an important determinant in the secretion of calcium into bile after partial hepatectomy in the rat.