Gallium-67 uptake by the liver: studies using isolated rat hepatocytes and perfused livers.

We studied the hepatic uptake of carrier-free Ga-67 using isolated rat hepatocytes and perfused livers. The results indicate that: (a) the liver can take up Ga-67 and secrete it into the bile, even in the absence of transferrin; (b) transferrin inhibits hepatic uptake of Ga-67 and its biliary excretion; and (c) iron deficiency markedly enhances hepatic uptake of Ga-67.