Independence of Bile Acid and Ouabain Hepatic Uptake: Studies in the Newborn Rat 1

Abstract

Summary

The plasma disappearance and biliary excretion of taurocholic acid was found to be slower in the newborn than the adult rat. This appears to be due largely to a less efficient transfer of taurocholic acid from the liver into the bile, while the liver/ plasma concentration ratio of taurocholate in the newborn is similar to that in the adult. Ouabain, in contrast, cannot be taken up and concentrated in the liver of the newborn rat. This suggests that taurocholic acid and ouabain are transported into the hepatocyte by different systems.