Effects of Fasting on Hepatic Bile Acid Clearance 1

Abstract

Summary

Hepatic bile acid clearance, as determined with [¹⁴C]cholic acid, was reduced 36% and plasma bile acid concentration was increased 72% in ponies following a 3-day fast. Eighty-seven to 91% of the isotopic bile acid was recovered in bile in 3 hours following tracer injection. The initial volume of distribution of injected tracer was not significantly different from the plasma volume. Reduced hepatic blood flow alone could not explain the changes in hepatic organic anion transport observed during fasting, since previous similar studies on the effects of fasting on hepatic bilirubin clearance showed a much greater fasting effect than the reduction of bile acid clearance in this study.