Effects of organic anions on biliary glutathione excretion in rats.

The effects of various organic anions (2 mumol/100 g body weight) on biliary glutathione excretion were studied in rats. Bromosulfophthalein markedly inhibited glutathione excretion, whereas dibromosulfophthalein was a less potent inhibitor. Experiments with different bromosulfophthalein doses revealed that the extent of inhibition of glutathione excretion was related to the total bromosulfophthalein excretion. Indocyanine green also inhibited biliary glutathione excretion. Dinitrophenyl glutathione and pravastatin did not inhibit biliary glutathione excretion. These findings indicate the existence of several pathways of biliary excretion of organic anions and suggest that one of them is a pathway for biliary glutathione excretion.