Effect of cycloheximide on bile flow adaptive response in selective biliary obstruction

The adaptive increase in bile flow was studied up to 24 h after selective biliary obstruction (SBO) in the rat. Between 6 and 12 h after SBO bile flow increased significantly, such that 12 and 24 h after SBO bile flow did not differ significantly from control. The prior administration of cycloheximide (300 micrograms/100 g) resulted in a significant impairment of the increase in bile flow normally occurring between 6 and 12 h after SBO. These data indicate that the adaptive response in bile flow is dependent on de novo protein synthesis and suggest that the protein composition of the plasma membrane may determine the adaptive increase in bile flow that occurs after SBO in the rat.