Endothelin-1 stimulates bile acid secretion and vesicular transport in the isolated perfused rat liver

The effects of endothelin (ET) on portal pressure and bile secretion were examined using isolated perfused rat liver and rat hepatocyte preparations. ET-1 raised portal pressure dose dependently; administration at a high dose (10(-9) mol) induced a > 200% increase along with reduced bile flow and decreased secretion of bile acid and phospholipids. However, a low dose (10(-10) mol) of ET-1 brought about a < 100% portal pressure rise, enhanced both bile flow and excretion of bile acid and phospholipids, and significantly increased transfer of preadministered horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into bile. In addition, values for Ca2+ concentrations, examined by indo 1 fluorescence, were elevated in isolated hepatocytes after administration of ET-1. Papaverine suppressed the low-dose ET-1 stimulation effects on both portal pressure and bile secretion. Moreover, it also reduced the HRP excretion and suppressed intracellular Ca2+ release. This study demonstrated that ET-1 stimulates vesicular transport, probably via promotion of intracellular Ca2+ release, and, as a result, increases bile acid-dependent bile flow.