Bile secretion in hemoglobin-free perfused rat liver.

Hemoglobin-free perfused rat liver was demonstrated to be a suitable experimental model in studying bile secretion. Bile flow slowly decreased to more than 3 h of perfusion. Despite differences in metabolic states, the bile flow was the same in the recirculating as in the nonrecirculating mode of perfusion. Sulfobromophthalein stimulated bile flow at high rates of infusion. In bile, the ratio conjugated to unconjugated sulfobromophthalein also increased with sulfobromophthalein infusion rate. The access of [14C]insulin, [14C] sucrose, and inorganic [32P] phosphate from perfusate into bile was restricted. Bile flow, secretion of taurocholate and sulfobromophthalein, and bile pressure are compared with values from anesthetized animals and from isolated livers perfused with medium containing erythrocytes.