Influence of taurocholate on hepatic clearance and biliary excretion of asialo intestinal alkaline phosphatase in the rat in vivo and in isolated perfused rat liver.

We have used canine intestinal alkaline phosphatase, an asialoglycoprotein, as a tool to study the effect of taurocholate on hepatic asialoglycoprotein transport. After bolus injections of 20 U of alkaline phosphatase into anesthetized rats in vivo and isolated perfused rat livers, a biexponential disappearance pattern was observed; 6.2% of the dose and 0.8% of the dose was excreted in bile, respectively. Taurocholate infusion in vivo and in isolated perfused livers resulted in a virtually complete abolition of the plasma disappearance of alkaline phosphatase in the second slow phase of the curve, whereas the primary disappearance rate was not affected. Wash out experiments showed release of exogenous alkaline phosphatase from the liver, which was strongly increased by taurocholate. Liver perfusion experiments with two subsequent doses of alkaline phosphatase indicated that the taurocholate effect was completely reversible. It is concluded that taurocholate enhances exocytosis of interiorized alkaline phosphatase from liver into plasma. The taurocholate effect on hepatic exocytosis of the asialoglycoprotein may also occur when bile salt concentrations in the systemic or portal circulation, or both, are elevated due to certain liver diseases and postprandial bile salt absorption.