Uptake of taurocholate by hepatocytes isolated from developing rats

To further define developmental changes in bile acid metabolism, we determined the kinetics of taurocholate uptake by hepatocytes isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats at 7, 14, 21, 28, and 56 days of age. There was a progressive increase in taurocholate uptake with age. The uptake process exhibited saturable kinetics in every age group with a maximum uptake velocity attained above a taurocholate concentration of 200 microM. There were no differences in Km values but Vmax increased progressively between 7 and 56 days of age. These data suggest that the deficit in hepatic excretory function observed in immature mammals of several species may, in part, be related to decreased transport of bile acids.