Abstract
We have previously reported 1 that reticulo-endothelial blockade produced by the intravenous injection of India ink or saccharated iron oxide leads to a retention of intravenously injected bromsulphalein. That bromsulphalein disappears from the blood in normal animals faster than it is excreted in the bile has been recognized by various workers. This observation is in harmony with the occurrence of retention after reticulo-endothelial blockade. Theoretically therefore, bromsulphalein retention may be due to either a dysfunction of the reticulo-endothelial system or a defective hepatic excretion or both. In some experiments designed to study this relationship it was considered necessary to determine whether there is any mutual interference between bilirubin and bromsulphalein with respect to their rates of elimination from the blood stream. The present report is concerned with the effect of injected bilirubin on bromsulphalein elimination.
The experiments were performed upon dogs, both normal and anesthetized. Pure bilirubin (Eastman Kodak Company) dissolved in distilled water with the aid of a few drops of 10% sodium hydroxide solution was used. Bromsulphalein tests were performed in the usual way, using 2 mg. per kilo of dye and determining the dye concentration in plasma samples obtained at 5 minutes and at 30 minutes, the reported figures for each test indicating the percentage of dye in a 5-minute sample and in a 30-minute sample respectively. Five mg. per kilo was given to 4 normal dogs. In one dog a bromsulphalein test was run immediately and showed no retention (10–0). In the other 3 the bromsulphalein was injected 30 to 180 minutes after the bilirubin. Very slight retentions occurred (20–0, 30–5, 15–0 respectively). Ten mg. per kilo was given to 3 normal dogs. Thirty to 180 minutes later the bromsulphalein tests showed retentions of 40–10, 20–0, and 40–10 respectively.
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