The Chemical Forms in Which Phenol Red is Secreted into the Bile Of Rats

Abstract

Summary

Rats with ligated renal pedicles and a cannulated bile duct received an intravenous injection of phenol red. Paper chromatography of the bile revealed the presence of two colored substances, one of which was chromatographically identical with phenol red. The other substance could be converted to phenol red by acid hydrolysis and was thus a conjugated form of the dye. The conjugate appeared to be a glucuronide, since it was completely converted to phenol red on treatment with beta-glucuronidase. Within 2 hours after the injection of phenol red, 55% of the dose was excreted in bile as the unchanged compound, and 27% as the glucuronide conjugate. The conjugate, like the parent compound, appeared to be actively secreted into bile.