Enhancement of maximal bilirubin excretion by bile salts in the anaesthetized rabbit

The influence of glycodeoxycholate, taurocholate and dehydrocholate on the maximal hepatic excretion of bilirubin was investigated in rabbits anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone. Biliary secretion of dehydrocholate was much less than that of the other two bile salts, which could be explained by its metabolism in the hepatocytes. Glycodeoxycholate and dehydrocholate had a greater choleretic effect than taurocholate. Only glycodeoxycholate and taurocholate increased the secretion of biliary lipids, suggesting that dehydrocholate or its metabolites were unable to form micelles. All three bile salts, however, increased maximal bilirubin excretion to a similar extent. These results indicate that the action of bile salts on the excretion of bilirubin cannot be fully explained in terms of binding to mixed micelles.