The effect of bile salts on the pancreatic duct mucosal barrier

The effects of various bile salts on the permeability of the pancreatic duct in cats have been investigated. The sodium salts of cholic, glycocholic, taurocholic, chenodeoxycholic, glycochenodeoxycholic, deoxycholic and glycodeoxycholic acids were perfused through the main duct in concentrations similar to those found in the duodenal contents (15-42 mM). HCO3- and Cl- fluxes were determined before and after perfusion. The unconjugated dihydroxy bile salts increased permeability to these anions to a greater degree than the trihydroxy bile salt, but all were damaging to the duct when they were perfused at an alkaline pH (8.4-9.1). The glycine conjugates of the bile salts were as damaging as the unconjugated form, but 42 mM taurocholate was more damaging than 42 mM glycocholate. When 25 mM glycocholate was perfused at pH 2.4 there was potentiation of the damage produced during perfusion of glycocholate at pH 8.7. Sterile cat bile did not damage the duct, but infected bile did. The ability of bile salts to increase the permeability of the pancreatic ducts must be considered as a possible aetiological factor in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and malignant diseases of the pancreas.