Cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid transport in the hepatic acinus in rats. Effect of necrosis of zone 3 induced by bromobenzene.

The transport of cholic acid (CA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDC) and their influence on bile formation was investigated in rats treated with bromobenzene (BZ), a toxicant which selectively destroys zone 3 of the hepatic acinus. The necrosis equals 27-31% of the acinus cells. The absence of zone 3 in rats reduced the secretory rate maximum of CA and CDC by 18% (NS) and 25% (p less than 0.05), respectively. The maximum bile flow was not different from control during CA infusion but was lower during CDC infusion in BZ-treated animals. Although the bile acid concentration was lower in BZ-treated rats, only values obtained during the basal period and the beginning of the infusion reached the level of statistically significant difference. The bile salt-independent flow (BSIF) was not affected by the absence of zone 3. Our data suggest that zones 1 and 2 of the hepatic acinus can compensate for the secretion of CA and elaboration of BSIF when zone 3 is destroyed. However, necrosis of zone 3 reduces CDC secretion. Thus, the capacity for bile acid transport of the hepatocytes of different zones in the hepatic acinus may differ according to the circulating bile acid.