Assessment of enterohepatic circulation of 3H-digoxin with a minimal interruption technique.

The biliary excretion of 3H-digoxin in rats prepared for bile sampling with minimal interruption of the enterohepatic circulation was compared with that in rats with complete interruption after intraduodenal or intravenous administration. Following dosage by either route, significantly more radioactivity was recovered from animals with nearly intact enterohepatic circulation. The method described allows direct measurement of this cycle in unanesthetized animals without the consequences of bile depletion.