The effect of hepatic blood flow on taurocholate extraction by the isolated perfused rat liver.

The effect of the rate of portal blood flow on the fractional extraction of the bile salt sodium taurocholate was studied in the isolated perfused rat liver. Thirty-two livers were perfused with a 60 microM solution of taurocholate at flow rates varying from 0.65 to 3.55 ml/min/gm of liver. Extraction was determined from the difference in the concentration of taurocholate in the portal and hepatic vein perfusates. At the low flow rates, the extraction of taurocholate was nearly complete. However, as the rate of perfusion of the portal vein was increased, the extraction of taurocholate decreased exponentially. It is concluded that the single-pass extraction of taurocholate by the liver is related to the rate of sinusoidal flow.