[On the mechanisms of biliary excretion of the biliary contrast medium ioglycamide in the mini-pig with special regard of the importance of the bile flow (author's transl)].

16 experiments were performed in order to investigate the mechanisms of biliary excretion of Ioglycamide in the mini-pig. The results confirm the mechanisms known from other species for this experimental animal. Additionally, however, they demonstrate a significant linear correlation between the spontaneous bile flow and the biliary transport-maximum of Ioglycamide. It is concluded that this correlation is due to the fact that the bile flow as well as the transport-maximum represent independent parameters of the excretory capacity of the liver cells. This conclusion is supported by further experiments that were unable to show an improvement of the biliary transport-maximum of Ioglycamide by stimulation of the bile flow during infusions of bile acids and secretin. These results prove the impossibility to enhance the biliary excretion of Ioglycamide by stimulation of bile flow. This, however, indicates that it is possible to dilute or concentrate the biliary Ioglycamide concentration by induced variations of bile flow, a fact that might become important to improve the efficiency of i.v. cholegraphy.