The effects of bromosulphophthalein, indocyanine green and bilirubin on the biliary excretion of methylmercury.

The effects of three ligands for ligandin on the biliary excretion of methylmercury were investigated in male rats injected intravenously with 1.0 mg/kg Hg as Me203 HgCl. Bromosulphophthalein and indocyanine green inhibited the biliary excretion of methylmercury, while bilirubin had no such effect. None of the compounds tested which inhibited the biliary excretion of methylmercury decreased bile flow or changed the hepatic concentration of mercury of non-protein thiols. The possibility of the involvement of ligandin in the biliary excretion of methylmercury is discussed.