Effects of sphincterectomy on bile acid enterohepatic circulation in dogs

Relative rates of bile enterohepatic circulation (EHC) and bile acid pool distribution were compared in intact and sphincterectomized dogs with portacaval shunt. There was no significant difference in the rates of EHC or in the bile acid pool distribution in the groups of animals. Feeding and cholecystokinin administration caused similar increases in bile acid EHC rates in sphincterectomized and intact animals. It was concluded that the sphincter of Oddi has little or no effect on these aspects of bile acid metabolism in dogs.