Systemic absorption of gallbladder sclerosing agents in the rabbit. A preliminary study

The absorbed levels of ethanol or tetracycline, used as gallbladder sclerosing agents, were measured in the systemic blood circulation of 16 rabbits. The maximal systemic level of ethanol was 46 mg/dl and of tetracycline was 4.6 micrograms/ml after 30 minutes of gallbladder exposure. Comparable serum levels would be considered nontoxic in humans. As a gallbladder sclerosing agent, tetracycline (50 mg/cc) was slightly more effective than 95% ethanol exposed for either 15 or 30 minutes.