Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Determining Bile Duct Density in the Mouse Liver
Published on: April 30, 2019
Abstract:
The biliary excretion of copper was measured in eight patients with Wilson's disease (three untreated, with hepatic dysfunction) and 10 control subjects (three with hepatic dysfunction). The duodenum was perfused with an amino-acid solution containing a non-absorbed marker, (51)CrCl(3), and juice was aspirated from the duodeno-jejunal junction. The mean concentration of copper in the duodenal aspirate in Wilson's disease was significantly lower than in the control group. The mean biliary copper excretion rate in Wilson's disease of 8.6 +/- 0.8 mug/20 min (SEM) was also significantly below that of the control group (16.4 +/- 0.8 mug/20 min). The presence of liver dysfunction made no significant difference to the excretion rates in either group of patients. These results suggest that the copper accumulation in Wilson's disease is due to the inability of the liver to excrete copper into bile in adequate amounts.
More Related Videos
11:04Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides
Published on: September 7, 2019
06:52Positron Emission Tomography Using 64-Copper as a Tracer for the Study of Copper-Related Disorders
Published on: April 28, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder
Cirrhosis is characterized by the scarring of hepatic lobules in the liver, which are replaced by fibrous tissue, affecting the liver's normal functioning. NAFLD, on the other hand, is caused by an excessive build-up of fat in the liver, not related to...
Hepatic Drug Excretion: Enterohepatic Cycling
Post-release drugs and metabolites can be reabsorbed into the body from the intestine. For conjugated metabolites like glucuronides, reabsorption requires enzymatic hydrolysis by intestinal microflora. This...
Hepatic Drug Excretion: Influencing Factors
Jaundice
Cholecystitis