The maximal biliary excretory rate (Tm) of ioglycamide in the rat. Effect of taurocholate.

Biliary excretion of ioglycamide was studied in Wistar and Gunn rats. A hepatic transport-maximum (Tm) was observed. Higher Tm-values were found in Gunn rats, which have a greater bile flow compared to the parent Wistar rats, in spite of having a similar bile acid output. This suggests that the Tm is related to the bile acid-independent bile flow. In bile acid-depleted Wistar rats, bile acid output was 30% of control values whereas bile flow and ioglycamide-Tm had only decreased by approximately 15%. Ioglycamide excretion could not be increased by taurocholate infusion. An additional 22.0 ml of bile was excreted per mmol of biliary ioglycamide. Loads of the contrast agent markedly exceeding the Tm resulted in a decrease of its own biliary excretion and its choleretic properties. These presumed 'toxic' effects were counteracted by near-physiological amounts of taurocholate. Thus, the effect of taurocholate varies greatly depending upon the amounts of the contrast agent and the taurocholate administered.