Manometric changes during retrograde biliary infusion in mice.

The manometric, ultrastructural, radiographic, and physiological consequences of retrograde biliary infusion were determined in normostatic and cholestatic mice. Intraluminal biliary pressure changed as a function of infusion volume, rate, and viscosity. Higher rates of constant infusion resulted in higher peak intraluminal biliary pressures. The pattern of pressure changes observed was consistent with biliary ductular and/or canalicular filling followed by leakage at a threshold pressure. Retrograde infusion with significant elevations in pressure led to paracellular leakage of lanthanum chloride, radiopaque dye, and [(14)C]sucrose with rapid systemic redistribution via sinusoidal and subsequent hepatic venous drainage. Chronic extrahepatic bile duct obstruction resulted in significantly smaller peak intrabiliary pressures and lower levels of paracellular leakage. These findings indicate that under both normostatic and cholestatic conditions elevated intrabiliary volumes/pressures result in an acute pressure-dependent physical opening of tight junctions, permitting the movement of infusate from the intrabiliary space into the subepithelial tissue compartment. Control of intraluminal pressure may potentially permit the selective delivery of macromolecules >18-20 A in diameter to specific histological compartments.