Choleresis associated with metabolism and biliary excretion of diethyl maleate in the rat and dog.

Diethyl maleate (DEM) induces a choleresis in the rat and dog that appears to be canalicular in origin (bile flow and erythritol clearance increase equally) and occurs in the absence of an increase in bile salt excretion. Increased bile flow is probably accounted for by the osmotic activity of DEM compounds excreted into bile. These compounds represent the glutathione conjugate of DEM (DEM-GSH) and its subsequent metabolic products. Conjugation of DEM largely accounts for the depletion of hepatic GSH.