Taurocholate accelerates bile canalicular contractions in isolated rat hepatocytes

The influence of sodium taurocholate on bile canalicular contractions was examined by time-lapse cinephotomicrography of isolated rat hepatocytes in primary monolayer cultures. Frame-by-frame analyses indicates that as the dose of taurocholate increased, the number of contractions increased in a dose-dependent manner up to 5 microM. Because bile canaliculi are the smallest biliary passages across which bile secretion occurs, and because it is known that taurocholic acid within the dose range used in these studies causes a linear increase in bile secretion, the results suggest that canalicular contractions may be a function of canalicular bile secretion.