Effect of bile salts on rates of formation, accumulation, and export of mutagenic metabolites from benzo(a)pyrene produced by the perfused rat liver.

The effect of sodium taurocholate on the biliary export of stable mutagenic phenolic glucuronide metabolites of benzo(a)pyrene from livers of corn oil- or 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats was studied using a nonrecirculating perfusion system. Sterile bile samples were collected every 4 min and assayed for mutagens using the Ames Salmonella (Ta 98) test without addition of microsomes but containing beta-glucuronidase. Rates of export of mutagens produced from benzo(a)pyrene (20 microM) into the bile were stimulated 5-fold by the bile salt sodium taurocholate, concomitant with a 2- to 3-fold increase in bile flow. Steady-state rates of 60 and 90 revertants/g/h were observed in bile when 20 microM benzo(a)pyrene was infused into livers from corn oil or 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats, respectively. These rates of efflux were increased to 250 and 550 revertants/g/h by the addition of taurocholate. Rates of production of mutagenic phenolic metabolites which account for the mutagenic activity were determined by adding rates of efflux into bile and effluent perfusate with rates of accumulation of metabolites in the cell. In livers from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats, rates (8 min) of benzo(a)pyrene phenol formation averaged 300 nmol/g/h during the initial 20 min of perfusion but increased to 450 nmol/g/h after 1 h. The addition of taurocholate increased maximal rates of phenol efflux in the bile from 6 to 148 nmol/g/h and decreased rates of phenol accumulation in intracellular stores from 342 to 220. Rates of efflux into the vena cava effluent averaged 120 nmol/g/h and were not affected by taurocholate. Infusion of dehydrotaurocholate increased the appearance of metabolites of benzo(a)pyrene in the effluent perfusate but did not change rates of efflux into bile. Taurocholate doubled rates of output of phenolic metabolites into the effluent perfusate when bile flow was arrested by perfusion with calcium-free buffer. Thus, mutagenic glucuronides from benzo(a)pyrene phenols accumulated in hepatocytes much faster than rates at which they were exported. Total rates of production of phenolic glucuronides by the liver were not affected by bile salts; however, taurocholate stimulated their export into bile, while dehydrotaurocholate increased their concentration in the effluent perfusate. Both salts probably act by displacing metabolites from intracellular binding sites.